Pregnant Women, Infants Must Avoid Nitrate-Polluted Tap Water

You don’t have nitrates in your water? Think again—You might well have them. During certain times of the year, like in the warmer months, have increased levels of nitrates in the water. Nitrates are highest in ground water which provides drinking water for more than half of the Nation’s population. Groundwater is also the sole source of drinking water for many rural communities and some large cities and accounts for 96% of self-supplied systems (which includes well-water.) Many cities are on well water that is pumped into big cisterns. Different cisterns are used at different times of the year to supply the cities with water.
Health affects of Nitrates: Nitrates affect the red blood cells by disrupting oxygen availability which leads to blue baby syndrome, reduced vitality, increased stillbirths, spontaneous abortion, low birth weights and slow weight gain in livestock. The scientific name for this is methemoglobinemia. Boiling water will not reduce nitrate levels.
What is nitrate and where does it come from? Nitrate is the oxidized form of nitrogen. Nitrogen is found naturally everywhere. We get nitrates through applying manure or fecal material (from poorly or untreated sewer treatment), NPK or ammonium nitrate fertilizers to fields. Nonagricultural sources of nitrate come from lawn fertilizers, leaching septic systems, and domestic animals in residential areas. Also producing large amounts of nitrates are paper mills and munitions plants.
Nitrates can persist in ground water for decades and accumulate to high levels as more nitrogen is applied each year. Applications of nitrates to enhance our food supply started as early as the 1950’s, so our soils have been building up excess nitrates for quite some time. When plants have absorbed all they need for their growth, the excess contained in the solid runs off into surface waters, streams and rivers eventually entering our water system.
The USGS (United States Geological Survey) released a report in 1996 revealing that nitrate concentrations in the nation’s groundwater supply are increasing steadily. In this report it stated that 9% of our wells tested had nitrate concentrations exceeding the EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate which is 10 mg. /liter.
But I use a water filter, you say. What kind of a water filter? Most countertop water filters do not remove nitrates. Nitrates are one substance that needs to be filtered out with a good whole-house water system or reverse osmosis system (which does not include table-top water filters that only remove chlorine and odors.)
We now have the ability to test for nitrates, iron, chlorine, hardness, pH and dissolved solids using at-home test kits. In our area EcoWater Systems offers a free evaluation. You may have a water filter company in your area that does the same. So, be safe. . .have your water checked today.
References: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/wcp/

Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1995. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free internationally distributed monthly newsletter. For more information on all aspects of water, check out Dr. Moffat’s article under the Basics of Health on her website at: http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/BasicsofHealth/basicsofhealth1.htm

Baby Shower Party Favors

Planning a baby shower can be fun. Especially when it comes to deciding what will make the best party favors to give to guests to remember the momentous occasion just before the new baby arrives.
The great thing about baby shower favors is there are so many to choose from. You can go to any party store or go online, and you'll find hundreds of choices. May baby shower favors can be ordered in bulk and you and your friends can personalize them for an added touch. Soaps, picture frames and candles are popular baby shower favor gifts. You can purchase soap in bulk shaped like babies, storks or rattles. For an added touch you can take three or four cakes of soap and place them in little pink and blue bowls wrapped in pink or blue plastic wrap and tiny strings of ribbon. Picture frames and candles come in all kinds of wonderful baby colors and shapes You can mix and match them, place them in a decorative bowl, and have guests select one as they enter the party room. Little baby figurines are also a popular choice. You can order baby figurines in the shape of a teddy bear, angel, bunny rabbit, etc, or you can mix and match them and allow your guests to select their favorite.
If you'd rather make homemade baby shower favors, chocolates and cookies are always a welcomed gift. You can bake cookies in baby shapes and design chocolates in the shape of a rattle, baby bottle, etc.
Online sources of baby shower party favors include www.babycenter.com, www.baby-shower.com, www.simplybabystuff.com etc. You can select the gifts you want online, decide on the number of gifts and place the order-all when your baby is asleep and you are free to sit on your computer. Without disrupting any of your activities, the party favors will be delivered at your doorstep.
Party Favors provides detailed information on Party Favors, Wedding Party Favors, Birthday Party Favors, Baby Shower Party Favors and more. Party Favors is affiliated with Wholesale Candy Distributors.

Causes of Baby Diaper Rash and When to Seek Medical Advice

Diaper rash usually looks like a patchwork of bright red skin on your baby’s bottom. Most babies develop a diaper rash sometime or another. Times diaper rash may appear most often are:
• After solid foods are added to your baby’s diet• When your baby is taking antibiotics• When diapers are changed infrequently
Diaper rashes are more common in babies during their first 15 months or anytime your baby wears diapers. Other factors that contribute to diaper rash may include:
• Diarrhea• Use of plastic pants to cover a diaper
The good news about most diaper rashes is most cases disappear after a few days with home treatment.
Signs and symptoms of diaper rash include:
• Red, puffy and sometimes slightly warmer skin in the diaper region, buttocks, thighs and genitals• Baby may seem more uncomfortable than usual especially during diaper changes• Pain from a diaper rash often makes a baby fuss or cry when the diaper area is washed or touched
Causes for diaper rash
If a baby is forced to wear diapers soiled with urine or feces for long periods of time, he or she can experience irritation. A baby’s skin is usually quite sensitive, but even an adult who would wear an undergarment soiled with urine or feces for long periods of time would eventually experience irritation.
Sometimes when babies start to eat solid foods, the content of their stool changes and can increase the likelihood of diaper rash. Changes in baby’s diet can lead to increased frequency of stools, which can cause diaper rash. Breast-fed babies may develop diaper rash in response to something you have eaten.
New products such as a new brand of disposable wipes, diaper or detergent can irritate baby’s bottom. Even the type of detergent or fabric softener you use could be the cause.
Other substances that can add to the problem of diaper rash include ingredients found in:
• Baby lotions• Baby powders• Baby oils
The diaper rash can begin as a simple skin infection then spread to the surrounding regions within the creases of the skin turning into a bacterial or yeast infection.
Be careful about the fit of diapers and clothing. Tight fitting diapers and clothing which rubs against the skin can lead to diaper rash.
If your baby’s diaper rash does not improve within several days of home treatment and more frequent diaper changes, ask your health care provider for advice. If the diaper rash leads to a secondary infection it may require prescription medications. If diaper rash occurs with any of the following, have your child examined by a health care provider:
• Fever• Blisters or boils• A rash that extends beyond the diaper area• Pus or weeping discharge• Rashes that don’t respond to home treatment
Source: Mayo Clinic
Written by: Connie Limon Visit us at http://smalldogs2.com/BabyHealth for an extensive list of FREE reprint articles about Babies and Baby Health.
This article is FREE to republish with the resource box.
Written by: Connie Limon Visit us at http://smalldogs2.com/BabyHealth for an extensive list of FREE reprint articles about Babies and Baby Health.

Potty Training Your Baby From Age 3 Weeks

A new mom will quickly learn when baby is telling her that he is tired or hungry. Baby will also tell you when he is about to soil his diaper - or 'eliminate' in the jargon. The signs are usually a grunting and moving into a certain position.

My son used to get this far away look on his face and he would be very noisy so that everyone around him knew what was on the way!Many moms in America are now practicing 'elimination communication' whereby they watch baby for signs that he is ready to 'eliminate' and then dangle him over the toilet or a potty.

The technique does require virtually constant observation of the baby but apparently baby soon learns the procedure and knows that if he grunts hard enough it saves him having to sit around with a diaper full of you-know-what!The savings achieved through having to buy far fewer diapers are considerable, and of course you would be doing your bit to help the environment.

Potty training at the 'traditional' age of around 2-3 can be a real battle and a scary time for a kid. Starting much earlier would spare you both but the technique does require constant attention and, for this reason, some experts 'pooh-pooh' the idea (sorry!) of starting potty training so early.

Heather Welford of the National Childbirth Trust believes most parents will be too busy to watch baby all day and says 'I think it will always be something practiced by a minority of parents doing it for ideological reasons such as being closer to the baby or to help save the environment'. Two good reasons I would have thought.

Katy Luck runs a website with advice and articles about having babies. Visit her site at http://www.baby-talk.co.uk/