recent workshop in portland

[Guest guest]

I just finished a workshop about holistic alternative choices for

lactation consultants and raising. Very interesting. She thought we

shouldn't start babies out on rice, broth or cereal or otherwise because babies

don't have the digestive enzyme for grains. actually she is

against eating grains and meat and gluten. I coudn't go that far in my personal

life:) though I could certainly cut back. She thought maybe starting babies on

avocado, no big ideas on what else, except coconut. She suggested Shatavari for

increasing milk supply 2 caps 2x a day in aomond milk or 2tsp of powder a day.

what do you think about that, did she get it right?

Vicky York, IBCLC, CPD

Postpartum Care Services

www.vickyyorkdoula.com

Portland, OR

 

 

references: www.ikarma.com/user/vmyork

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky -

 

There are several issues that stand out here to me, and I believe Ayurveda can

shed light for them.

 

> I just finished a workshop about holistic alternative choices for

> lactation consultants and raising. Very interesting. She thought we

> shouldn't start babies out on rice, broth or cereal or otherwise because

babies don't have the digestive enzyme for grains.

 

It is true that a baby's digestive enzymes need to be awakened gradually, and

this is one of the reasons that as soon as " solids " are introduced baby bowel

movements smell horrible compared to breastfeeding. I've heard it said that a

baby's digestive system is immature until about 6 months which is why solids

should not be introduced till then, but as we know, sometimes babies crave it

by 4.5 months, and classical Ayurveda would have you wait, if the breast milk is

strong in needed qualities, and mother is strong too, until maybe even a year.

Few in India or here can do that.

 

Let us note also that most people start babies on " solids " as a mushy solid,

rather than a freshly prepared that day broth. There are worlds of difference

between a packaged or leftover broth and how it digests into gas from the

tamasic prana, or into gently stimulating Baby's system to secrete a little

enzyme needed, and more over time as the broth is observed to be handled well,

and gradually served thicker into mush over a week or more, and before

introducing any other food.

 

It is also notable that baby food is usually served as bland as it possibly can

be, without any support from the tastes to wake up the digestive enzymes there,

often served room temp, nor any oiliness to balance the vatagenic qualities of

the food - usually served from a preprepared jar or rewarmed frozen or otherwise

leftover with no prana except of course love.

 

There is a fascinating book with great recipes (for adults, not sure if she

talks about babies in there, and I forget the name of it - anyone know?) which

is taking people back to soaking everything, rice included, before eating,

because of enzyme issues and how poorly how many people are digesting. Although

it is helping people, grains and other foods themselves are getting blamed and

what is " natural " for human food habits being assumed to be new theoretical

conclusions even though how they are prepared, combined and eaten in terms of

timing, temp, spices and other things are not thoroughly considered.

 

actually she is

> against eating grains and meat and gluten. I coudn't go that far in my

personal life:) though I could certainly cut back.

 

That is for babies only, or everyone? I had an interesting conversation with a

classical homeopath one time which sheds another interesting light here for me.

It was in context of his advice to stop giving my daughter immunizations many

years ago (she is oh my, 32 now!) It was beyond the issues of mercury and all

in the immunizations it seemes. He had observed many clients some on more

traditional American processed foods, sausage and white sugar sweets type diet,

who didn't seem to have problems with immunizations because they are in a

generational stability in addition to the grounding heaviness of their diet.

And had observed those children " in transition " as it were, into vegetarian or

natural foods etc diet who are much more sensitive to the effects. One client

at the time had almost died with immunizations, and he advised me strongly to

not subject my children to further risks.

 

> She thought maybe starting babies on avocado, no big ideas on what else,

except coconut.

 

Sounds like the " mainstream " Mercola combined with raw foodist approach to me.

Avocado can be used by what I know, but it is likely to be served cold or room

temp, and is heavy you know? It is used fairly early for infant first foods in

Sikh Ayurvedic traditions from what I've seen, but remember that breast milk is

always served warm... and is much thinner food. A very simple what we are

calling broth is given in Chinese tradition made from barley (the kind still

with husk, but the solids are not given then) well boiled and just the " water "

given. Jethro Kloss in Back to Eden does something like this also for those who

are REALLY fragile or cleansing, to give highly digestible very dilute molecules

of the grain.

 

I agree, at least washing well in cool water, and perhaps soaking it first for

the baby is even better, before cooking, though the vaidyas are probably rolling

their eyeballs at how complicated we are making things. But this is not the

same thing as the packaged " broths " vegetable or otherwise, people buy and use

for weeks after it was prepared in our natural food stores. Freshly made that

day only. It IS labor intensive, to people so used to " convenience " . Tamasic

influences are not really convenient at all but we think they are in short

sightedness.

 

> She suggested Shatavari for increasing milk supply 2 caps 2x a day in almond

milk or 2tsp of powder a day. what do you think about that, did she get it

right?

 

She did get the shatavari part right, best galactagogue I know of. Though

effectiveness in capsules is very reduced. Let's help her body make use of it,

very simple to do. 1/2 tsp bid that's bi-daily, with a pinch of cardamom or

ginger or some such digestive, steeped like a tea, in hot cow's milk, almond

milk, spiced tea or water. IE, hydrated and combined with a digestive. Sweeten

to taste. Shatavari is a root rich in food constituents and needs some digestion

to get it. It is also an awesome female tissues rejuvenative tonic, not just

breast (stanya rasayana).

 

Or prepare in a sweet with almonds, saffron, cardamom, coconut or whatever else.

Ayurdoulas sell a preparation called a stanya rasayana or almond herbal

rejuvenative snack, which is very yummy and rejuvenative to both breast and

connective tissue, an herbal food supplement. There is also a good preparation

called shatavari kalpa.

 

As always, thank you for such great questions Vicky. I hope there are others

still listening in even tho they don't say so, who are benefiting too *o).

 

Love,

Ysha