pregnancy

June 13, 2019 By Kelly Leave a Comment

The Savvy Mom’s Top Toxins To Avoid To Welcome Baby Into A Healthy Home

✱ Babies are typically born with over 200 toxins in their system before they are even out in the world ✱

You want the very best for your baby. You’re doing all you can to ensure he is healthy, safe and happy. But you know that environmental toxins pose a serious health threat, especially to a baby’s delicate system.

You realize how important it is to reduce the toxins in your home environment for your precious baby’s health.

That is exactly when the light bulb went on for me. I was pregnant with my now 13-year-old son when I learned how toxins seriously threaten our health.

I knew I had to do something to give my kids a healthier home environment. That was long before the green movement was big. Clean products were not nearly as easy to find so I did my research and made it my mission to help moms like you go green and healthy.

Discover The top toxins to avoid to welcome your precious baby into a healthy home.

We sadly live in a very toxic world which is why I’m passionate about helping families reduce toxic load.

While you’re caring for your baby, you need to take care of yourself too. Self care is the latest buzz word but it truly is vital. You can’t be your best for your baby and loved ones if you don’t take good care of you.

There are many ways to show yourself and your family love, eco friendly and wellness living is one of them… to me the most important one. Why? Because while you are healing yourself you are also healing the environment. You live in and among every single person living in that environment. Your desire to detox your body and your home creates a ripple effect. You are taking on a task that not many consider taking or will take in their lifetime.

This is a list of some of the most toxic ingredients that are commonly found in personal care and household products.

Eliminate these and you will have a good jumpstart on cleaning up the environment in your home.

Grab this free guide: The Savvy Mom’s Top Toxins To Avoid To Welcome Baby Into A Healthy Home & discover the top toxins to avoid to welcome your sweet baby into a healthy home so you create a safe environment for your little one and your whole family.

August 27, 2018 By Kelly Leave a Comment

I’ve Wanted To Tell This Story For 16 Years. Here It Is.

Are you a breastfeeding mom or were you, like me, once upon a time a breastfeeding mom who found breastfeeding so damn hard you couldn’t even believe it? I had an incredibly difficult time coupled with postpartum issues. Postpartum & breastfeeding issues are more common than you might think. In fact, in my experience, breast feeding difficulties are more common than not.

Most women I’ve talked with had some type of hardship surrounding their breastfeeding experience. Many have such a sucky (no pun intended) time they just give up. For better or worse, I persevered.

As tough as it was, I never lost sight of the fact that I was blessed with a healthy, thriving, fun baby who allowed me to experience a love I never knew existed.

I’ve felt compelled to share my own difficult breastfeeding & postpartum story for 16 years. I finally do in this video

At the time, I knew I’d write about it one day. I thought I’d do it sooner but all things happen at the right time. 20% of women in the U.S. suffer from anxiety and mood disorders before or after pregnancy and it can last up to 3 years postpartum.

Both of my pregnancies was great but I suffered postpartum anxiety after my first. I’m so far removed from that point in my life but I remember it like it was yesterday. Perhaps you had a similar experience and will relate to my story. One thing I know for sure, if you did or if you are currently, you are not alone.

A national survey conducted by Every Mother Counts, Seleni Institute, Peanut, Motherly and Maven, revealed that the majority of women reported experiencing both depression and anxiety. I distinctly remember thinking I am going to write about this one day because I cannot possibly be the only mom going through this but this was 2002. Facebook didn’t exist and blogs weren’t nearly what they are now. No time like the present and especially fitting because August is National Breast Feeding Month and I recently had a conversation with my niece who went through a similar experience after giving birth to her beautiful daughter in January.

I want to share my story because since then I’ve met so many women who have been in the same exact boat. If you have a similar experience, I want you to know you are not alone or crazy like I thought I was.

I share much more in this video I did in my Facebook group which you are welcome to join…

I have been wanting to share my difficult postpartum story for 16 years. Here it is.

I have been wanting to share my difficult postpartum story for 16 years. Here it is. Postpartum & breast feeding Issues are more common than you might think

Posted by Savvy Girl's Organic World With Kelly Bonanno on Wednesday, August 15, 2018

It was of upmost importance to me to be able to feed my baby the almighty breastmilk to give him the zillions of immune boosting health benefits, particularly being such a wellness advocate advocate. And frankly I figured it would be easier than having to make bottles and drag them along and certainly cheaper, breastmilk is free.

Mommy & Me play group with 6 month old Joey

In the video, I share that I unknowingly nearly starved my son for the first few days. He latched on just fine so I had no idea no milk was coming out. I did everything possible including hiring a lactation consultant.

I also talk about the circus it was and the rigors I went through weighing him, nursing him, weighing him again to see what measly little milk I might’ve given him… then making a bottle to supplement after which I had to pump to try to encourage my mammary glands to start making milk on their own and hopefully increase milk production.

The whole process was so freaking long by the time I was done feeding him it was practically time to feed him again! I now realize why wet nurses were popular at a point in time.

I also reveal how I finally, after months of screwed up sleep patterns, got him to sleep through the night and become a good napper. I literally thought I would never be able to leave the house. I was almost delirious. The sleep deprivation was brutal and made me nuts. That coupled with the postpartum anxiety I was experiencing and lack of support made me so damn irritable.

Me & my sweet baby 2003

As rough as it was, he was a sweet, fun baby… the light of my life. I was fortunate to have plenty of wonderful times with him during that first year and more and more with each passing year. I expound a great deal in the video, I wonder how many of you can relate in any way. Drop a comment, I’d love to hear from you.

May 8, 2014 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Be A Beautiful Mom-to-Be Without Toxic Beauty Products

Every mom-to-be wants to feel beautiful but the toxic ingredients in most personal care products and cosmetics are extremely harmful to your growing baby. This infographic from Healthy Child Healthy World makes it easy to stay safe and avoid exposing your baby to dangerous toxins. Fortunately there are fabulous non toxic alternatives on the markets. Check out their e-Book, Easy Steps to Safer Pregnancy for more helpful tips.

October 28, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Can Microdermabrasion Ruin Your Skin?

Guest Post by Igor Marcikic

We`ve all heard of microdermabrasion, a mild, non-invasive method of removing dead skin cells found in the surface layer of the skin. It was introduced in Italy, almost 30 years ago. Today, it`s one of the most popular methods for dealing with acne, mild scarring and wrinkles, skin exfoliation and rejuvenation.

Can it ruin your skin? Not if it’s done properly. Microdermabrasion boosts skin circulation and helps rid skin of toxins and impurities. However, as with any procedure, there are dangers and hazards to be aware of.

Aluminum Oxide Crystals

Although this technology is outdated, you have to be aware, especially if you are looking for a machine for microdermabrasion at home. Some older machines use aluminum oxide crystals to blast the dead skin cells off your skin. Research shows that aluminum in personal care products is linked to Alzheimer`s disease, breast and prostate cancer.

These crystals can:

Cause skin irritation and inflammation
Scatter into your lashes, hair and ears, causing discomfort and possible health problems
Irritate your eyes, causing corneal scratches and abrasions
Cause the powder from the crystals to get into the lungs and lead to health problems, especially with asthma sufferers

The solution to this problem was found in the use of a new technology – diamond tip exfoliation without the use of crystals. It is less irritating and far more gentle on the skin so it can be used even on more sensitive areas.

So, before you schedule a microdermabrasion procedure (or order a machine for home usage), make sure they use a machine with a diamond tip!

Sensitive Skin

“Is microdermabrasion safe for sensitive skin?” Since sensitive skin often goes hand in hand with acne breakout, this question is incredibly difficult to answer. If your skin is already affected by severe acne inflammation, rosacea or if you spot broken capillaries, you should steer clear of this procedure.

Those with sensitive skin should get a professional do to the job properly with a diamond tip since it will allow better pressure control depending on the skin`s reaction. After the treatment, moisturize and hydrate your skin with pure non-toxic products since it will be very dry. The second treatment should be scheduled at least 2-3 weeks after the first one, to give your skin enough time to fully recover.

Microdermabrasion And Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a challenging time, as far as the skin is concerned. You may be faced with new breakouts, rashes and all sorts of skin problems, but pregnancy is definitely not the best time for microdermabrasion.

The skin will be far too sensitive and the normal post-procedure changes (dryness, redness and itching) may greatly intensify. Not only that, your skin will take more time to recover, opening a doorway to various bacterial skin infections. I advise waiting until after the baby is born. Everyone, particularly expectant mothers, should avoid skincare products containing harmful chemicals.

Post-Procedure Problems

Redness and dryness is normal, to a certain degree, it usually feels like a mild sunburn. This usually goes away after two days. If they are still present after 48 hours, you should consult a medical professional. It is also advised not to expose treated skin to direct sunlight for a couple days.

At the end of the day, skin type and sensitivity vary from person to person, so there are no ultimate rules and regulations. Arm yourself with knowledge and always ask questions if there are some parts of the procedure you are not 100% on board with.

Igor Marcikic is a beauty & skincare writer, for more info & tips visit his blog, Skincare Panda.