Truly Soap Free Shampoo

I've attempted going no-poo before, but the apple-cider vinegar and baking soda route always left my head sore and my hair oily. I never seemed to be able to get the formula right despite the tweeking. So I had given up for a while, until I was gifted this recipe from a lady who works in the wellness department of my local co-op.  She said it can be used as a shampoo and a gel if needed. The best thing is there is NO SOAP of any kind in it.

SIGN ME UP!

I am still in the transitioning phase from using shampoo to this, but my kids hair is already fantastic. It is soft, shiny and just so nice.




Basic Soap Free Shampoo

- 1 cup flaxseeds
- 4 cups distilled water
- 1 wedge of orange and lemon

- Place into a non-reactive pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally so the seeds don't stick to the bottom.
- Strain out seeds and citrus wedges. Pour into a shampoo bottle.

This formula doesn't create the magnificent suds you are used to. It may only make a little bit if any. You can tell by how your hair feels where it is.

That Darn Cavity

I know my posts and few and far between at times. My apologizes.

This past month has been an eye opener in SO many different ways. Having had to start actual mediation to help control some of my Lupus symptoms. I've also ramped up my running recently since I have created the insane goal of running a marathon at the end of this year.

More so I have been paying more attention to the things I put on my body and on my family.

Recently a trip to the dentist for my son ended with us finding out he has a cavity. I was devastated to say the least and very annoyed since his previous appointment six months ago didn't even have a stain or trouble spots pointed out. We also have not changed his diet or our brushing habits. The only thing that changed was his toothpaste. We had started using the Crest for kids that the dentist gave us a sample of. Call me crazy, but it just seemed to coincidental for him to suddenly develop a bad cavity. That and upon finding the cavity, the use of a fluoride rinse as well did nothing to strengthen it, yet he did get two more discolored spots on his lower canines. So, unless it's just the fact that he got a cavity and something is amiss else where, which seems hardly the case after doing some studying. I have completely changed my mind about store bought toothpastes, mouthwashes and even the organic ones.

 I found a great website  that not only offered information but a recipe on how to make your own tooth-soap. This other site offers a re-mineralizing tooth soap recipe that I am eager to try out.

This did come with some anxiety of course. I've been brainwashed by the world that you need to brush with the dentist recommended toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Going against this caused brief lapses of insanity and strange looks from my husband.

The Verdict of using the tooth-soap so far is: it is completely different than the store stuff. It doesn't suds up AT ALL. You are basically scrubbing your teeth for the 2 mins with what seems like spit and more spit. It also makes you more aware of your brushing habits. The teeth that you spent more time scrubbing feel clean, a really nice clean too. But you are very aware of the teeth you missed or didn't get so well, since there were no extra bubbles to "wash" those for you.
I made mine using wild orange oil to make it more kid friendly, so far there are no complaints except for how long we HAVE to brush for now. But, really, we should all be brushing for 2 mins anyway because that's what has been recommended for decades and I have no trouble with more brushing time (just the toothpaste).

Tooth soap recipe taken from Mommypotomus:

Homemade Tooth Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild
• 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon water
• 20-40 drops essential oil (cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, anise, fennel, sweet orange – or whatever you like. Number of drops varies based on the strength of the essential oil)
• 1 -1½ tablespoons raw honey or a few drops stevia extract – for more info on what type of stevia to use check out this article

Note: If you us honey some will settle at the bottom. Just stir a bit with the dropper before using.

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix water, 1 tablespoon honey and olive oil until well blended.
2. Add remaining ingredients and whisk thoroughly. Add remaining ½ tablespoon (½ teaspoon) honey if needed.
3. Pour mixture into a vial with dropper or soap dispenser (be sure to label it!) and use!

Basic Re-materializing toothpaste:

I used parts instead of tsp or tbsp so depending on the batch size use what is needed. You can add xylitol to this formula to help sweeten it, but since the jury still seems out on it, I just omitted it. *Note this can be a bit bitter and salty tasting but it really makes your teeth feel clean.

-5 parts calcium powder or cal-mag powder (I bought vitamin capsules and just emptied them into a bowl until I had what I needed)
-2 parts baking soda
-2-5 parts coconut oil (until you get the consistency you like)
-10-20 drops essential oils (I used peppermint)

-Mix powders together in a small bowl. Add coconut oil until you are happy with the consistency.
-Put into a small airtight jar. Use a spoon or popsicle stick to spread onto toothbrush.

I'm sorry........what?

There has been a story going around online about a teen mother who was denied access to a room to pump for a her baby while at school.  (Gratefully the school has decided to create a place for her to pump in reaction to this story's publicity.) Click here for the blog.

What bothered me the most about this wasn't that she was a teen mother nor that she was denied somewhere to pump. It was the attitude of some mothers stating that she should be allowed to nurse her baby in class while at school.

What?

Apparently these people have forgotten what it's like in High School. Granted this new mom now hopefully has a different view of her body after having a baby, but she is in a school filled with hormonal teenagers.  How horribly awkward would it be to try nursing in a class half filled with horny boys who keep leering at you in the hopes of seeing a nipple?  That and nursing a baby while multi-tasking isn't easy. The baby might be still now while it's small, but that doesn't mean a bout of colic isn't going to happen or that she is going to be able to take notes that are legible at the same time.
Frankly, if the teacher cannot nurse her baby while teaching, then the student can't either.

Whatever area that is designated for teachers to pump and store while they are teaching, should be also accessible to the student. It is a work place and work places should have an area open for use that is private for mother's to do this.

I'm not going to touch the issue of her being a sophomore. I could barely talk to boys in 10th grade, let alone do the deed with them.  But this does bring up more issues.  Teenage girls think babies are cute. We have seen them on talk shows and (sadly) on Maury, toting around a baby doll and admitting to having unprotected sex just to have a baby.  Yes, babies are cute. They are supposed to be so they will get the attention they need to survive.  To me there just seems to be a lot lacking in the parenting world since this is happening more and more often.  There is even a show dedicated to it and the stars appear on the front of US and People magazine.  Talking about it with our kids is awkward. BEYOND awkward. But we have to talk to them about it, it's our job as parents to help our kids not get themselves into a huge mess that could effect the rest of their lives.

An interview with actor William H. Macy got me thinking.  Sex is locked up behind an R rating and yet it is something that is natural and (for some people) happens on a daily basis. Yet, guns appear in PG movies that we allow our kids to watch. I'm not saying that I think sex should be in PG movies, but in light of how more kids are shooting each other in recent history, it does make one wonder.

Interview below; for full interview ---> The Guardian

Do you think society today places too much emphasis on sex? 1) Or do we deny it too much?

Yes and yes. I don't know about Great Britain but I think America has got it pretty well bollocksed up. And I think our films have a lot to do with our views about sexuality, and I think we're ill-served by our ratings board, who need to get into therapy, in my opinion. We're so accepting of violence – ugly, ugly, ugly violence and we let our children watch it. I don't let my kids (2)watch it. And yet we are allergic to sex. And I don't know much but I know this: violence is bad and sex is good. Even the bad sex I've had was pretty good. But violence is bad – it's always bad, there are no exceptions. It's bad. And it's ugly and we've got to paint it as it is.

Uh huh.

As an actor I don't want any censorship of any kind but I think we can hold the film industry to a higher standard. If we're going to have violence let's tell the truth about it. It makes me disgusted when I see the hero get the crap kicked out of him and he's making love in the next scene. If you're going to kick the crap our of your hero then have him stay beat up. Tell the truth about it. And this film (3) tells the truth about it. It's people with real disabilities and sex – what could make an audience more uncomfortable? And yet the result of the film is that you love being human; you love humanity, you feel good about yourself at the end of it.

What do you think the effect is on society of these distorted set of values?

You have priests molesting children. You've got Jeffrey Dahmer. You've got a huge porn industry. You've got people going to their grave unfulfilled. You've got husbands and wives torturing each other because we can't talk about anything and we can't be honest about it.

So ... a pretty big effect, then.

It's a huge part of being alive. They say that young kids, especially boys, are thinking about it every four seconds, or something like that. They think about sex more than they think about food. Our normal way of suppressing it does not work. It doesn't work at all. I mean with the amount of crap we've had laid on our shoulders from our parents about our sexuality, it's a wonder we can function at all.

Sugar Saga

I have written about sugar before.

Since my son started attending the free preschool our city offers, I cannot count how many times he has come home and been suffering from it's effects. Temper tantrums that escalate more quickly than I can fathom and begging for more sugar. There was one week there were three birthdays and all the parents sent in cupcakes and cookies. Then there was the ice cream sundae and pajama days. Mind you, I have absolutely nothing against ice cream and pajamas. Nothing.  But all of this has made me profusely aware at how sensitive my kids are to sugar and how much sugar they Do Not get at home.

A reminder of this happened this past week when I was making cookies. I had planned on making chocolate chip cookies without the cup each of brown and white sugar. My husband of course made the comment that they taste so much better with sugar in them. I shrugged and made them with the sugar. My little test tasters were waiting eagerly for when they were cool enough to try.  1 for everyone, except myself.

I clocked it.

Within half an hour of having the cookies, we had meltdowns involving a very loud and angry screaming fit.
Cursing under my breathe, I scooped all the cookies up, tossed them into a zip lock and up into the top shelf of the cabinet they went.  I then made a orange cranberry cookie without sugar using only honey.

It could of been coincidence. But looking back into my children's eating habits, sugared candies and cookies have never been in the top ten. Strawberries, blueberries, apples, pineapples and carrot sticks reign supreme. Yes, there are natural sugars in fruits and vegetables along with other things like crackers and cereal. But my son doesn't melt down over a hand full of strawberries the way he does over a cookie.

I finally felt like I had reached a breakthrough with my husband on this. While I was making the sugarless batch, I was cursing under my breath about how I feel like I'm the only one who sees it, yet I'm the crazy one, etc.  He countered with that he shouldn't have to give up what he likes because the kids are sensitive to it. Well, that backfired. Since I have been doing my best to live a sugar free life (brief hiatus for the holidays and a baby shower since it's everywhere!)  I have noticed that my kids aren't the only ones who get sugar rage.  I get it and so does my husband. I pointed that out to him and it stopped him in his tracks.  I told him that I have noticed that he gets angry quicker when he has had a sugary snack and that I do too.  The next day when he came home from work, he grabbed what was left of the junk from Christmas and threw them out.  This totally floored me. He then stated that he was no longer eating junk just to eat junk, he was going to only eat what he really enjoyed and only when the kids wouldn't see him. Because, every time he would go for a pop tart or cookie, his little princess also wants a bite. She also seems more apt to want junk than her brother.

Just more compelling evidence that our children follow our eating patterns whether we like it or not.

Choosing Cesearen

This book is due to be published soon. Below is what was taken from the website.

Choosing Cesarean - A Natural Birth Plan

by Dr. Magnus Murphy, MD
& Pauline Hull

Should I Choose to have a Cesarean Section?

If you are pregnant, or contemplating pregnancy and not sure what the deal is with elective cesarean - read on…

You may have heard the derogatory "too posh to push" blanket condemnation of women who choose to have their babies born by cesarean birth. However, you almost certainly have NOT heard the whole story, or even the true story. I can guarantee you that if you dig deeper and research this - that at the very least, you will start to think differently and may even question your previous firmly held opinions. Since although it may be true that most women today would not choose a cesarean birth, it is also true that more and more women do.
There are many good reasons for this - in spite of the erroneous special interest lobbies and the media driven agenda of marginalizing and vilifying women who dare choose an alternative for themselves and their babies than what is perceived as 'natural', 'safe' and 'better'. In fact, there is strong evidence that we have indeed passed the point already where planned elective cesarean as a birth plan, is a safer choice for a woman and her unborn baby, than planned vaginal delivery.

Choosing Cesarean - A Natural Birth Plan

I have joined forces with Mrs. Pauline McDonagh Hull to write the book: Choosing Cesarean; A Natural Birth Plan, to answer this need. More than three years in the making, this book will be published by Prometheus Books of New York and is scheduled for worldwide release in January 2012. In it, we investigate every aspect of the debate regarding planned cesarean vs. planned vaginal delivery, from the safety of mother and baby, ethical questions, economic realities, and questions about choice and informed consent.

In the book: Choosing Cesarean; A Natural Birth Plan we discuss worldwide trends in birth and how politics and vested interests and belief paradigms influence the birth experience of many women today. The risks of cesarean is clearly discussed in a dedicated chapter, so we are not glossing that over, but we do clearly demonstrate how the mantle of safety that so-called 'natural' childbirth has enjoyed till now, and which continues to be vigorously defended by vested interest groups, in fact, has to be shared (at the very least) with planned elective cesarean birth in today's First World.

About the Authors

I am a practicing urogynecologist and clinical assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. After many years of practicing general obstetrics and gynecology I decided to dedicate my professional life towards helping women with prolapse and incontinence, which are conditions commonly associated with vaginal childbirth.
Mrs. McDonagh Hull is an investigative journalist located in London, UK.

As the time for publication nears this website will be updated with new features and information, so check back often. The plan is to start a blog here, to enable comments and discussion.
In the meantime, please visit: www.pelvicfloor.com or the Facebook group page: Defending Cesarean.
And please tell your friends to visit.

Yours sincerely,
Magnus Murphy MD
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

 

 

I really have nothing to say. I'm completely stunned that a book like this would be published. C-sections are not natural nor are multiple sections safe. This book is just promoting a lie that sections are safe. Despite any warnings that are in the book. Promoting a book like this is doing harm to any kind of natural birth movements. Also helping to ruin the Best for Baby movements as well.

All I can hope for this book is that is withdrawn and disappears forever.

The Chickenpox Hunter

I am hunting, rather impatiently for chickenpox. I am a hunter who has feelers out and traps set, with not prey to catch and not a bite on the bait.  Varicella is the only vaccine that I personally feel is useless. It is a convenience vaccine to me, one that prevents parents from having to take time off from work for two weeks while they deal with a sick child. Yes, that does seem problematic for the parents who have never spent more than a weekend off with their kids between work days. But for us parents who do not live and breathe work and are not bothered by the idea of being home with a sick child, this is not an issue.
My husband and I both had chickenpox when we were kids. My entire 2nd grade class was wiped out in our school for about 3 weeks, right before a much anticipated field trip to Park Safari. This is part of the reason why I am seeking it out. I do not want to get Shingles and I would prefer not to get the adult vaccine for it. Though I know nothing is 100%. Both my husband and I would prefer to have a natural immunity update from our children.

My journey down the vaccine info road has been a long and slow one. Both of my children have all the other vaxes required by our state and peds. The only one I just see as bogus is chicken pox. It's the most common of common childhood illness. It was like the cold. Mothers would have pox parties so that all the kids would get it over with during the summer when school was on hiatus. It is not a deadly disease, it can carry risks like with everything. But heck, babies die from fevers still and other unknown causes. As sad as that is, it is a fact.

Yet now the race is on. I have to either find it and naturally immunize my children before my son starts school or give him the shot. Time is not on my side and so far neither is nature.

My only question is, when did this common childhood disease become cursed? When did it become something that we are frightened with? Adults are more likely to get shingles because their child was given the shot, thus denying the parents systems with a natural update to the disease.  What is even more interesting to me is that this episode of 'Arthur' still airs on occasion. If it were such a big deal, wouldn't they of pulled it?

Bad Advice

While we were splashing away at the beach the other day, I found myself following my daughter around as she toddled her way around beach blankets and other people. She was admired by everyone in her adorable swimsuit and commented about how tiny she is. This I'm used to. Yes, she is tiny and she's been moving since she was about 5 months (she learned quick that it was move it or get plowed over).
I happened to meet another mother who also had a tiny daughter, who had just turned one and was a pound shy of my daughter's weight. We talked a little bit about them and then she asked what my pediatrician says about her growth. I shrugged and said that she is constantly reassuring me that "She is Indeed Growing, slowly, but she's growing."  Then the other mom said that her ped told them to stop feeding her fruits/veg and to give her fattening things like mayonaise, cake, icecream, etc. The father was nearby and made the comment "Who gives their kid straight Mayo?".  I was shocked. I told her I wouldn't give her that stuff and just keep giving her the healthy foods. There are plenty of healthy fatty foods that you can give your kids like nuts and avacados. Ok, maybe peanut butter or cashew butter instead of straight nuts, but still. Most of those foods are high in sugar! I would rather my child gain slowly but beg for carrots over cake. That kind of diet gets them used to a bad diet and sugar fluctuations that will just lead to a bad eating habit roller coaster.

I understand worrying about a child gaining weight, especially if they are formula fed and the parents stop giving it at 1 in exchange for whole milk, but come on Cake? Really? Hummus is much more healthy and just as fattening. Granted it takes some being crafty on the parents part to get them to eat it, but it's worth it in the long run.

Stereotyping

With all the news on the Martin/Zimmerman trial and then TIME magazine (not so gently) blowing fire into the world of breastfeeding, I've become rudely aware of how much stereotyping there is out there.

I have lots of opinions and views on the trial, but I really don't have the energy to get into it right now and that would totally blow this entry off course.
What I will say, is that the whole thing reeks of stereotyping to me. The simple fact that Zimmerman instantly suspected Martin because of how he was dressed, makes my head swim. But then we have to think about the simple reasons as to why he even thought Martin was up to no good. There was/is a reason behind that. And it's much more complex than a simple piece of clothing.  Same with the breastfeeding mom, nursing her toddler who is standing up. Mothers assaulted her verbally on the web and in other blogs around the US. Why? Because she is now a radical. Everything that attachment parenting is not, at least to most parents.

We are judged the moment we walk into a room, whether it is a waiting room at a clinic, a store at the mall, or going in for an interview. We are judged and then stereotyped before we even open our mouths. By our perfume, our clothes, our gait, our glasses, etc. This is part of the hard wiring in our brains. We assess strangers and try to judge if our fight or flight instinct needs to become activated. Are they friendly? Are they Dangerous? Are they a good worker? Are they poor? And so on. These questions rattle through our minds and after a few minutes, maybe even after hearing them speak, we have filed them into a category. First impressions are the hardest to shake and in Martin's case, sometimes deadly.

Then there is the problem on the other side of that. How do we express who we are without being filed into a certain category? In honesty, there isn't a way to do that. Everyone is different and has a different view of what dangerous, sexy, trashy, is and that is where the trouble lies.

I have a lot of appreciation for people who uphold our laws in this area. They HAVE to shut off this sense almost entirely, in order to see truth. And truth is a lot more complex than black and white. It would be easy to say that everyone who is a Gangster, wears baggy pants and hoodies with something in the pocket, is dangerous and out to rob someone. But that isn't true. The same way it's easy to say that all hippies smoke pot, live in a commune and have free sex. But that's not true either and these are stereotypes that we ALL think of when we hear the words. Not to the same degrees surely, but we each have an idea of what an extreme might be.

When it comes to the Martin/Zimmerman case, everyone is crying out racism. When really that isn't what got him killed. It was behavior and attire and fear of those two combined that formed the radical image of who this kid was before they even met.
Same with the picture of the mother nursing her toddler. She has automatically been stamped with the seal of partial insanity for nursing her child past 1. Especially in the states. Her breast exposed for the whole world to see has been seen by some as sexual and perverse. The innocent act of her nursing her son, has been branded obscene by many and has widened the gap even more so.

Stereotyping is dangerous and yet there is no real way to stop ourselves from doing it daily. We only have to be more meticulous in our actions that follow.

What to Reject when you're Expecting

Since I seem to be coming across all sorts of great article bits lately, why not add another one? There is SOOO much fantastic info out there, all we have to do is read it.

 

What to reject when you're expecting

10 procedures to think twice about during your pregnancy

Published: May 2012

10 overused procedures10 overused procedures | 10 things you should do during your pregnancy10 things you should do during your pregnancy | 5 things to do before you become pregnant 5 things to do before you become pregnant | Success storiesSuccess stories | ResourcesResources

Despite a health-care system that outspends those in the rest of the world, infants and mothers fare worse in the U.S. than in many other industrialized nations. The infant mortality rate in Canada is 25 percent lower than it is in the U.S.; the Japanese rate, more than 60 percent lower. According to the World Health Organization, America ranks behind 41 other countries in preventing mothers from dying during childbirth.

With technological advances in medicine, you would expect those numbers to steadily improve. But the rate of maternal deaths has risen over the last decade, and the number of premature and low-birth-weight babies is higher now than it was in the 1980s and 1990s.

Why are we doing so badly? Partly because mothers tend to be less healthy than in the past, “which contributes to a higher-risk pregnancy,” says Diane Ashton, M.D., deputy medical director of the March of Dimes.

But another key reason appears to be a health-care system that has developed into a highly profitable labor-and-delivery machine, operating according to its own timetable rather than the less predictable schedule of mothers and babies. Childbirth is the leading reason for hospital admission, and the system is set up to make the most of the opportunity. Keeping things chugging along are technological interventions that can be lifesaving in some situations but also interfere with healthy, natural processes and increase risk when used inappropriately.

Related Topics

• Dangerous Baby Products
• Unnecessary Medical Procedures
• Babies & Kids

Topping the list are unnecessary cesarean sections. The rate has risen steadily since the mid-1990s to the point that nearly one of every three American babies now comes into the world through this surgical delivery. That’s double or even triple what the World Health Organization considers optimal.

Some people say that the increase in C-sections and other interventions stems mostly from women, who may be requesting more of the procedures. That could be a contributing cause but it’s not the major one, says Carol Sakala, Ph.D., director of programs at Childbirth Connection, a nonprofit organization that promotes evidence-based maternity care.

“We see rates going up across all birthing groups, including all ages, races, and classes," Sakala says. "What we are seeing is a change in practice standards, a lowering of the bar for what’s an acceptable indication for medical interventions.”

10 overused procedures

Of course, the idea is not to reject all interventions. The course of childbirth is not something that anyone can completely control. In some situations, inducing labor or doing a C-section is the safest option. And complications are the exception, not the norm. But when they’re not medically necessary, the interventions listed below are associated with poorer outcomes for moms and babies.

1. A C-section with a low-risk first birth

While C-sections are generally quite safe, “the safest method for both mom and baby is an uncomplicated vaginal birth,” says Catherine Spong, M.D., chief of the pregnancy and perinatology branch at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The U.S. health-care system has developed into a profitable labor-and- delivery machine that operates on its own timetable—not the schedule of mothers and babies.

The best way to reduce the number of C-sections overall is to decrease the number of them among low-risk women delivering their first child. That’s because having an initial C-section “sets the stage for a woman’s entire reproductive life,” says Elliott Main, M.D., chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the California Pacific Medical Center and director of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. “In this country, if your first birth is a C-section, there’s a 95 percent chance all subsequent births will be as well,” he says.

A C-section is major surgery. So it’s no surprise that as rates for the procedure go down, so do the numbers for several complications, especially infection or pain at the site of the incision. Rare but potentially life-threatening complications include severe bleeding, blood clots, and bowel obstruction. A C-section can also complicate future pregnancies, increasing the risk of problems with the placenta, ectopic pregnancies (those that occur outside the uterus), or a rupture of the uterine scar. And the risks increase with each additional cesarean birth.

Babies born by C-section can be accidentally injured or cut during the procedure and are more likely to have breathing problems. They are also less likely to breast-feed, perhaps because of the challenges of starting in a post-surgical setting.

In some situations, such as when the mother is bleeding heavily or the baby’s oxygen supply is compromised, surgical delivery is absolutely necessary. But women can maximize their chances of avoiding an unnecessary cesarean by finding a caregiver and birthing environment that supports vaginal birth.

When choosing a practitioner and hospital or birthing center, ask about C-section rates, particularly rates for low-risk women having their first child. The target rate for that population should be around 15 percent, according to the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). Although it can be difficult to find a hospital with a C-section rate that low, you might be able find one that meets the more modest goal of about 24 percent, which was set by the government’s Healthy People 2020 initiative.

About a third of the babies born in the U.S. are now delivered by C-section.

2. An automatic second C-section

Just because your first baby was delivered by C-section doesn’t mean your second has to be, too. In fact, most women who have had a C-section with a low-transverse scar, or “a bikini cut,” are good candidates for a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), according to ACOG. About three quarters of such women who attempt a VBAC are able to deliver vaginally.

Yet the percentage of VBACs has declined sharply since the mid-1990s, particularly after ACOG said in 1999 that they should be considered only if hospitals had staff “immediately available” to do emergency C-sections if necessary. And some obstetricians don’t do VBACs because they lack hospital support or training or because their malpractice insurance won’t provide coverage. So women seeking a VBAC delivery might have trouble finding a supportive practitioner and hospital.

“It’s tragic, really,” Main says. “In many parts of the country, the option has all but disappeared.”

In response, ACOG recently relaxed its guidelines. For example, it makes clear that while it’s preferable for staff to be at the ready, hospitals can make do with a clear plan for dealing with uterine ruptures and assembling an emergency team quickly. Experts we spoke with say it’s too early to tell if the move will lead to a change in clinical practice.

Although some women turn to home births as an alternative, our experts say that isn’t a good idea in this situation. “The risk of uterine rupture is low,” Main says, “but if it happens, it can be catastrophic.”

Instead, if you had a C-section, find out whether your obstetrician and hospital are willing to try a VBAC. Let them know that you understand that you your baby will be monitored continuously during labor, and ask what the hospital would do if an emergency C-section became necessary.

Vaginal births after a C-section have declined sharply since the late 1990s.

3. An elective early delivery

A full-term pregnancy goes to at least 39 weeks, but over the last two decades many doctors have come to think they can deliver babies sooner than Mother Nature intended. Between 1990 and 2007, births at 37 and 38 weeks increased 45 percent, according to the March of Dimes. At the same time, full-term births dropped by 26 percent.

Because nearly all late preterm babies survive and eventually thrive, many doctors see no harm in moving up a delivery date to fit a schedule. “Although we knew 39 weeks or later was the optimal time for delivery, until recently there wasn’t a good evidence showing that a lot of maturation took place after 37 weeks,” says Ashton of the March of Dimes, who terms research from the last five years “eye opening.”

Late preterm babies “may look like full term babies,” she says, “but they are different in important ways.”

It turns out that carrying an infant to term has health benefits for both moms and babies. Research shows that babies born at 39 weeks or later have lower rates of breathing problems and are less likely to need neonatal intensive care. Full-term babies may also be less likely to be affected by cerebral palsy or jaundice, have fewer feeding problems, and have a higher rate of survival in their first year. Some research even suggests that full-term infants benefit from cognitive and learning advantages that continue through adolescence.

Perhaps because late preterm infants have more problems, mothers are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. In addition, the procedures required to intentionally deliver a baby early—either an induced labor or a C-section—also carry a higher risk of complications than a full-term vaginal delivery. “There is just much more chance of things going wrong if you interrupt the normal course of pregnancy,” Spong says.

Of course, some babies arrive sooner than expected and complications during pregnancy, such as skyrocketing blood pressure in the mother, can make early delivery the safest option. But hastening the conclusion of an otherwise healthy pregnancy—even by a couple of days—is never a good idea.

The rate of early deliveries varies substantially among hospitals, as demonstrated in the table below of all six hospitals in Utah that report that data to Leapfrog Group. It shows the percentage of early deliveries in each hospital that were done without medical reason. See the rates of planned early deliveries for the hosptials in your state on Leapfrog's website.

The rate of scheduled early deliveries varies widely in six Utah hospitals.

4. Inducing labor without a medical reason

The percentage of births resulting from artificially induced labor more than doubled from 1990 to 2008. “In many ways the system has become centered on convenience rather than evidence-based care,” says Sakala of the Childbirth Connection. She points out that it’s no coincidence that more babies are born on Tuesdays than any other day of the week. “The births are scheduled so that parents and providers can all be home by the weekend.”

It's no coincidence that more babies are born on Tuesdays. The births are scheduled so the parents and providers can all be home by the weekend.

But whether artificially induced or spontaneous, labor is labor, right? “Absolutely not,” says Deborah Bingham Dr.PH., R.N., vice president of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. She points out that women who go into labor naturally can usually spend the early portion at home, moving around as they feel most comfortable. An induced labor takes place in a hospital, where a woman will be hooked up to at least one intravenous line and an electronic fetal monitor. In addition, most hospitals don’t allow eating or drinking once induction begins.

"An induced labor may also occur prior to a woman's body or baby being ready," Bingham says. "This means labor may take longer and that the woman is two to three times more likely to give birth surgically." In addition, induced labor frequently leads to further interventions—including epidurals for pain relief, deliveries with the use of forceps or vacuums, and C-sections—that carry risks of their own. For example, a 2011 study found that women who had labor induced without a recognized indication were 67 percent more likely to have a C-section, and their babies were 64 percent more likely to wind up in a neonatal intensive care unit, compared with women allowed to go into labor on their own.

Induction is justified when there’s a medical reason, such as when a woman’s membranes rupture, or her “water breaks,” and labor doesn’t start immediately, or when she’s a week or more past her due date.

5. Ultrasounds after 24 weeks

Unless there is a specific condition your provider is tracking, you don’t need an ultrasound after 24 weeks. Although some practitioners use ultrasounds after this point to estimate fetal size or due date, it’s not a good idea because the margin of error increases significantly as the pregnancy progresses. And the procedure doesn’t provide any additional information leading to better outcomes for either mother or baby, according to a 2009 review of eight trials involving 27,024 women. In fact, the practice was linked to a slightly higher C-section rate.

6. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring

Continuous monitoring, during which you’re hooked up to monitor to record your baby’s heartbeat throughout labor, restricts your movement and increases the chance of a cesarean and delivery with forceps. In addition, it doesn’t reduce the risk of cerebral palsy or death for the baby, research suggests. The alternative is to monitor the baby at regular intervals using an electronic fetal monitor, a handheld ultrasound device, or a special stethoscope. Continuous electronic monitoring is recommended if you’re given oxytocin to strengthen labor, you’ve had an epidural, or you’re attempting a VBAC.

7. Early epidurals

An epidural places anesthesia directly into the spinal canal, so that you remain awake but don’t feel pain below the administration point. But the longer an epidural is in place, the more medication accumulates and the less likely you will be able to feel to push. Epidurals can also slow labor. By delaying administration and using effective labor support strategies, you might be able to get past a tough spot and progress to the point you no longer feel it’s needed. If you do have an epidural, ask the anesthesiologist about a lighter block. “Ideally, a woman should still be able to move her legs and lift her buttocks,” Main says.

8. Routinely rupturing the amniotic membranes

Doctors sometimes rupture the amniotic membranes or “break the waters,” supposedly to strengthen contractions and shorten labor. But the practice doesn’t have that affect and may increase the risk of C-sections, according to a 2009 review of 15 trials involving 5,583 women. In addition, artificially rupturing amniotic membranes can cause rare but serious complications, including problems with the umbilical cord or the baby’s heart rate.

9. Routine episiotomies

Practitioners sometimes make a surgical cut just before delivery to enlarge the opening of the vagina. That can be necessary in the case of a delivery that requires help from forceps or a vacuum, or if the baby is descending too quickly for the tissues to stretch. But in other cases, routine episiotomies don’t help and are associated with several significant problems, including more damage to the perineal area and a longer healing period, according to a 2009 review involving more than 5,000 women.

Allowing healthy infants and moms to stay together right after delivery promotes bonding and breast-feeding.

10. Sending your newborn to the nursery

If your baby has a problem that needs special monitoring, then sending him or her to a nursery or even an intensive care unit is essential. But in other cases, allowing healthy infants and mothers to stay together promotes bonding and breast-feeding. Moms get just as much sleep, research shows, and they learn to respond to the feeding cues of their babies. Allowing mothers and babies to stay together is one of the criteria hospitals must meet to be certified as “baby friendly” by the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, a program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

10 things you should do during your pregnancy

Families don’t have to wait for the whole system to change to seek out practitioners who are already following more patient-centered models of care. “We need to raise women’s awareness that there will be a big difference in how they are cared for depending on who is in charge and what policies are in place,” Bingham says. Below are 10 steps you can take to ensure the best possible experience.

1. Set your due date. If you aren’t positive about the date of conception or your last menstrual period, get an ultrasound early in the pregnancy to establish your due date. Subsequent ultrasounds might suggest other dates, but that first ultrasound provides the most accurate one. “If we aren’t sure about the dates,” Spong says, “it can turn into a real mishmash in the end.”

2. Make a plan—and have a backup. For example, if you’ve had a C-section and would like to consider a vaginal birth, discuss that up front because not all doctors and hospitals provide care for VBACs. A birth plan can help you talk about concerns and desires with your provider and with hospital staff. Look for a template that is current, applicable to your situation, and flexible. Here is an example from the California Pacific Medical Center. But remember that things rarely go exactly as planned, so have a backup in mind. For example, you might want to have a delivery without pain medication, but consider what you will do if it turns out you need it. Finally, think about breast-feeding when planning. “An important thing a mother can do is learn about breast-feeding while she is pregnant,” says Rebecca Mannel, a lactation coordinator at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. “Providing advice and support prenatally is a key time that is often missed.”

3. Consider a midwife. If your pregnancy is low-risk, consider using a certified midwife, a health professional who can provide a range of women’s health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Certified midwives have graduate degrees, have completed an accredited education program, and must pass a national certification exam. Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) also have a nursing degree; certified professional midwives (CPMs) have special training in delivering babies outside of hospitals.

Midwives practice in diverse settings—including homes, hospitals, and birthing clinics—and provide many of the same services as physicians, including prescribing medication and ordering tests. The care that midwives provide is based on the philosophy of not intervening unless there is a current or potential health problem. That approach has several benefits, according to a 2009 review of 11 studies involving more than 12,000 women. Women who used midwives were more likely to be cared for in delivery by their primary provider (rather than whoever was on call) and were more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth without the need for an epidural, forceps, or vacuum extraction. They are also more likely to report feeling in control during their birth experience and to initiate breast-feeding.

Most health insurance plans cover midwife care and include some in their list of covered providers. The American College of Nurse-Midwives maintains a list of CNMs and CMs. Make sure the midwife you’re considering is licensed to practice in your state. CNMs are licensed in every state, but CPMs and CMs are not.

4. Reduce the risks of an early delivery. Women who have a history of spontaneous premature delivery can reduce the risk of another preterm birth by about one-third by taking a special form of progesterone weekly starting at 16 to 20 weeks. In addition, women with a significant risk of delivering their baby early —due to their water breaking, for example—and who are between 23 and 34 weeks pregnant can reduce risks to the baby by taking corticosteroids such as betamethasone and dexamethasone. If your doctor doesn’t prescribe those medications ask why not, and get a second opinion if necessary.

5. Ask if a breech baby can be turned. Because a baby delivered buttocks- or feet-first can be in danger, many practitioners recommend a C-section when the baby is not coming out head first. But by using a technique called external version, a skilled practitioner can often turn a breech baby in the last weeks of pregnancy. Because it carries some risk—membranes might rupture, for example, or in rare cases the baby can become tangled in the umbilical cord—it should be done in a hospital, where both mother and baby can be monitored closely. With the increasing use of C-sections, some practitioners have little training or experience with the external version procedure. If yours is not, consider asking for a referral to someone who is.

6. Stay at home during early labor. Discuss with your provider at what point in labor your should go to the hospital or maternity center. Don’t be disappointed, though, if the staff checks you and sends you home. “Until a woman’s cervix is dilated to 3 or 4 centimeters, she usually doesn’t need to be in the hospital setting,” Main says. “She’ll usually be more comfortable and labor will even progress more smoothly at home.”

7. Be patient. Mothers are likely to be in labor longer than their grandmothers were, recent research suggests. That may be because they tend to be heavier or older when they give birth, or it may be a side effect of epidural anesthesia. In any case, most doctors learned about the course of labor from timetables set in the 1950s. “Obstetricians may be too quick to intervene because they think labor is not progressing as quickly as it should,” Main says. Talk with your practitioner as well as anyone who will be supporting you in advance about your desire to allow your labor to progress on its own.

8. Get labor support. Women who receive continuous support are in labor for shorter periods and are less likely to need intervention. The most effective support comes from someone who is not a member of the hospital staff and is not in your social network—a doula, or trained birth assistant, for example—according to a systematic review of 21 studies involving more than 15,000 women in a range of circumstances and settings. Ask your provider for a referral, and see if your insurance company will cover doula care.

Placing healthy newborns naked on their mother's bare chest after birth has many benefits for both.

9. Listen to yourself. Walking, rocking, or moving during contractions, and changing positions between contractions, can make you more comfortable and speed labor along. “Each labor coping strategy, such as walking or showering, tends to last for about 20 minutes,” Main says. “It’s good to plan five or six strategies and then rotate through them.” When it comes time to push, being upright or on your side rather than flat on your back allows your pelvis to open and keeps you working with rather than against gravity. Hollywood-style pushing, in which the woman is coached to hold her breath and push hard according to someone else’s count, turns out to less effective than trusting your instincts. “Self-directed pushing, in which the mother can push when she feels like it in the way that feels right to her, can actually make things go faster,” Bingham says.

10. Touch your newborn. Placing healthy newborns naked on their mother’s bare chest immediately after birth has numerous benefits for both of them, according to a review of 30 studies involving nearly 2,000 mother-infant pairs. Babies that get skin-to-skin contact interact more with their mothers, stay warmer, cry less, and are more likely to be breast-fed and to breast-feed longer than those that are taken away to be cleaned up, measured, and dressed.

5 things to do before you become pregnant

One approach to improving birth outcomes is to focus on improving health before pregnancy. “Entering pregnancy healthy gives you the best possible chance to stay that way yourself and have a healthy baby,” Spong says. “If you have medical problems, get those under control. Get yourself in as good shape as you can for that baby.”

And if you aren’t planning a pregnancy in the near future? There’s no downside to optimizing your health. Plus, over half of all pregnancies are unplanned, so it only makes sense for women who are sexually active to consider their reproductive health.

A two-year collaborative effort by experts from government agencies, national medical organizations, and nonprofits such as the March of Dimes yielded recommendations for health-care providers and consumers to improve preconception health and care. Here are the top five.

1. Take folic acid. Aim for 400 mcg of a day starting at least 3 months before becoming pregnant to cut the risk of neural tube defects by at least half.

2. Stop bad habits. That means smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and using illegal drugs. Smoking is associated with premature birth, low birth weight, and other pregnancy complications. It’s never safe to smoke or use recreational drugs during pregnancy because those substances can harm the developing fetus even before you realize you are pregnant. Any alcohol during pregnancy—especially during the second half of the first trimester—puts your baby at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome, according to a recent study.

3. Take control of chronic disease. If you have a medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, or high blood pressure, be sure to get it under control. For example, losing excess weight before pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, blood clots, and other adverse effects. Also be sure that your vaccinations are up to date; rubella (German measles) and chicken pox can cause birth defects and complications if you get them while pregnant.

4. Watch for harmful drugs and supplements. Talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any over-the-counter and prescription medicine you are taking, including vitamins and other dietary or herbal supplements. Some medication, such as the acne drug isotretinoin (Accutane), can cause miscarriages and birth defects and shouldn’t be taken by women who are—or might become—pregnant. For other medication, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage or an alternative drug.

5. Avoid toxins. Those include hazardous chemicals or potentially infectious materials at work or at home. Stay away from solvents such as paint thinner. Don’t change the litter in your cat’s box; let someone else do it. And avoid handling pet hamsters, mice, and guinea pigs because they can carry a virus that can harm your baby.

Time Magazine

Since the discussions circulating this months cover are everywhere at the moment. It's only normal that I jump in and add my two cents. (I have not read the article, if I'm able to hunt one down soon, I will post about it.)

My first reaction to the photo was "FINALLY! Yes, show the world that extended breastfeeding is normal." Then I started thinking about it more after my excitement of seeing a toddler nursing on a magazine diminished. I examined the cover and the photo itself.

The caption is almost mocking of those that either do not breastfeed or haven't gone past the age of one when paired with this photo. "I am MOM ENOUGH, but anyone who isn't doing this isn't." Which just ignited the entire argument of formula feeding mothers against breastfeeding mothers and even breastfeeding moms against breastfeeding moms. So that right there has created a HUGE problem.

Then there is the photo. I do love it by itself, but there are some things that are just wrong. Last time I checked, moms didn't nurse with their babies/toddlers standing upright. I have nursed standing up and even walking, but my children have almost always been in semi reclined position. I also feel like they dressed the boy to appear older than he really is (he is 3) by putting him in camo pants, a thermal shirt, and what appears to be hiking sneakers. Is he a toddler or a lumberjack? That alone is feeding into the early pressures of the "sex" of the child. Who knows? Maybe she really does buy him those clothes. Either way, for me it made him appear to be 5, which is pushing it even for our World Wide average of 4.  Her stance is strong, but she is also on the defensive. As if to say she won't back down if you have a problem with how she is parenting. Which is great otherwise. Every mom should feel strong and secure in her decisions in parenting. Then there is her hand. Apart from being a photographer and absolutely HATING disembodied hands in general, her hand being there almost signifies her holding him to the breast longer than he wants to be. Which goes against the method of toddler lead parenting, a form of natural parenting. You let your child lead you as to when to start solids, sleep habits, weaning, etc. Not on major things, like wearing a seat belt or helmet.

This photo would of been much more correct if it showed them snuggled in a chair, him nursing and her holding a book. As if that was their special time to sit and bond. But this clearly makes a statement, rather than being a candid shot in the family album. (Insert kitchen counter and dinner being prepped).  My husband and I both agreed that a more agreeable picture would of been of a family sleeping all together in a King size bed. Since that is a much less explosive topic in general, as EVERY parent has let their child come into their bed at some point during the child's life. Formula fed or breast fed aside.

In short, what could of been a relevant cover that would of sold copies without sparking a maelstrom, has not happened. It has simply become another image that will be shot down, ripped to pieces, speculated upon and shunned.  My thanks to TIME for trying to make a point and instead making a bigger mess.

Hip Dysplesia

This is something that enters into my mind everytime I see a BabyBjorn or Snugli. I had one with my son and I hate how floppy he was in it. His head flopped, his legs flopped and I felt like he was going to fall out when I bent over. I sold it shortly after I got the Moby Wrap. My friend let me borrow her Mei Tei and my husband loved it. So we ended up buying one for ourselves.  2 years later I read about this and was extremely happy I got rid of the crotch dangler.

 

Baby Carriers, Seats, & Other Equipment

• Home
• Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip
• Prevention
• Baby Carriers Seats And Other Equipment

IHDI Educational Statement

Hip Health in baby carriers, car seats, swings, walkers, and other equipment
Summary Statement: The Medical Advisory Board of the IHDI does not endorse nor advise against any particular baby carrier or other equipment. The purpose of this educational statement is to provide information about healthy hip development to guide manufacturers in the development of safe designs of infant equipment, and to help parents make informed choices about the devices they use for their babies. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to choose a baby carrier that allows healthy hip positioning, in addition to other safety considerations. When babies are carried, the hips should be allowed to spread apart with the thighs supported and the hips bent.
Education Statement: The IHDI recommends healthy hip positioning for all babies to encourage normal hip development. Within the womb, a baby spends a long time tucked in the fetal position, in which both hips and knees are bent or flexed.

Baby in normal (fetal) womb position.

After birth, it takes several months for the joints to stretch out naturally. Babies that have been in the breech (bottom first) position may need even more time to stretch out naturally. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. During the first few months of life the ball is more likely to be loose within the socket because babies are naturally flexible and because the edges of the socket are made of soft cartilage like the cartilage in the ear. If the hips are forced into a stretched-out position too early, the ball is at risk of permanently deforming the edges of the cup shaped socket (hip dysplasia) or gradually slipping out of the socket altogether (hip dislocation). Hip dysplasia or dislocation in babies is not painful so this may go undetected until walking age and may also result in painful arthritis during adulthood. The risk of hip dysplasia or dislocation is greatest in the first few months of life. By six months of age, most babies have nearly doubled in size, the hips are more developed and the ligaments are stronger, so are less susceptible to developing hip dysplasia.
The most unhealthy position for the hips during infancy is when the legs are held in extension with the hips and knees straight and the legs brought together, which is the opposite of the fetal position. The risk to the hips is greater when this unhealthy position is maintained for a long time. Healthy hip positioning avoids positions that may cause or contribute to development of hip dysplasia or dislocation. The healthiest position for the hips is for the hips to fall or spread (naturally) apart to the side, with the thighs supported and the hips and knees bent. This position has been called the jockey position, straddle position, frog position, spread-squat position or human position. Free movement of the hips without forcing them together promotes natural hip development.

SEE: Hip Healthy Swaddling
Some types of baby carriers and other equipment may interfere with healthy hip positioning. Such devices include but are not limited to baby carriers, slings, wraps, pouches, car seats, exercisers, rockers, jumpers, swings, bouncers and walkers, and molded seating items. These devices could inadvertently place hips in an unhealthy position, especially when used for extended periods of time. Any device that restrains a baby’s legs in an unhealthy position should be considered a potential risk for abnormal hip development. It is also important to assess the size of the baby and match the device and carrier to the size of the child so that the hips can be in a healthy position during transport. Parents are advised to research the general safety and risks of any device they wish to use. When in doubt, we recommend involving your primary health-care provider in any further decision-making that may be medically relevant.
These series of drawings demonstrate typical devices that allow healthier hip positioning in comparison to those which do not.

Car Seat Positioning

Not Recommended:

Tight car seats prevent legs from spreading apart.

Better:
Wider car seats provide room for legs to be apart, putting the hips in a better position.

Baby Harnesses

Not Recommended:

Thigh NOT supported to the knee joint. The resulting forces on the hip joint may contribute to hip dysplasia.

Better:


Thigh is supported to the knee joint. The forces on the hip joint are minimal because the legs are spread, supported, and the hip is in a more stable position.

Baby Slings

Not Recommended:

Baby carriers that force the baby's legs to stay together may contribute to hip dysplasia.

Better:

Baby carriers should support the thigh and allow the legs to spread to keep the hip in a stable position.

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Back to Prevention of Hip Dysplaisa

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How to Murder a Sweater (or How to Make Wool Longies)

Since it's become such a sudden obsession, I thought I'd share how easy it is to murder a sweater. First, you have to find a 100% wool sweater. Salvation Army stores are a haven as well as Good Will. Ours has a family day every Wednesday, where everything except new arrivals is half off.  Merino Wool, New Wool, Cashmere, Virgin Wool, and even Lambs Wool* are all good as long as they are no less than 95% wool. 
Once you have acquired your wool, you get to torture it. Hot wash and a cold rinse, then drying it on High Heat in the dryer.  It will scream for mercy and be half it's size when it comes out.  This is to felt the wool fibers so they are thicker and more sturdy.
After washing and drying you are ready to mutilate your sweater.  I have some not so pretty pictures to help explain.

First take a pair of pants that fits you baby right now or the next size up.

Turn one leg inside out..

and stuff it into the other leg.

So it looks like this.

Place it onto a piece of newspaper..

trace and cut so you have a pattern. Please make sure you allot room for the seam by making it taller, longer and a bit wider in the bum for the seam.

Then take an innocent sweater...this one is 100% lambs wool

* When felting lambs wool, don't do it in a machine. Soak it in HOT water for 20 mins, do a cold rinse and then dry on high. Otherwise it falls apart and you will have wool bunnies in your lint catcher and all over the floor.

Cut the arms off of the sweater, ignore any screams.

I like to turn up the cuff just in case of any growth spurts.

Place your pattern on top of the sleeves, in this case they are going to be leggings.

They don't have to be perfect, but get them as similar as possible.

Cut off a piece of the bottom cuff to use for a waist.

Like you did when making the pattern, turn one sleeve inside out and stuff the right-side out into the inside out.

Top : right side. Bottom : inside.

Sew around to make the crotch seam, if single stitching, do two rows for strength.  Leave top open.

Voila.

Now taking, the bottom cuff, wrap it around the waist and cut it 1/2 to 1 inch shorter than the waist length. Sew ends together to make a circl.  Then holding it tight, sew onto the waist of pants while stretching it. Sew two rows if desired.

And now you have a simple pair of longies to keep your baby comfy and warm while staying dry.

After you have made them, you are going to need to wash them in a wool safe soap and lanolize them, since felting them stripped any lanolin out of the fibers.  After washing them in the wool wash, you have to do a separate lanolin treatment.  You don't need any fancy lanolin, if you have some left of the kind you used while nursing, that works fine.  You will need a pea size amount, squeeze it into a bottle of HOT water, shake well until the water is cloudy, then add to a bucket/sink of room temp water. Add you wool and squeeze gently to work the lanolin in. Then leave for 30mins to an hour. Gently squeeze water out and wrap in a towel to absorb any extra moisture.  Lay flat to dry. You may need to lanolize your wool twice before it has reached peak water resistance.

Have fun sweater murdering. :o)