Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Cleanser, Moisturizers, Diapers, Ecing .... i know its a lot in one.

Hello, My name is Shaina and I am just about 5 months pregnant. Ive been doing my shower registry and it came to point to do diapers, bathroom items etc. I wanted to wait and do some research.

First I would like you to know I am very new at natural and organic products in general, its something Ive recently become interested in my life shortly before I became pregnant.

Second, I want to do a natural birth, but the whole idea of giving birth has always scared me so much to not even wanting kids. I get very nauseous at the sight of blood, needles etc, and even when hearing or reading about other peoples stitches, cuts, etc.....and especially the birth process. (any help with that would be great!)

Ive been researching natural products for babies such as disposable diapers, wipes, cleansers and moisturizers. I was never interested in cloth diapers.

My questions are:
Do you think the natural disposable diapers are worth it, or just about the same as the regular diapers we see everyday? I have found "huggies natural" and "earths best".
How would you compare cloth diapers to disposable?

As far as body washes and soaps moisturizers... I am nervous to use just anything like johnson and johnson. I have eczema and I do not want my baby to suffer as I did/do. I use a natural cleanser called Dr. Bonners for myself. I would like to find something similar and a bit more gentle for my baby. Any suggestions? I am still looking for an all natural moisturizer for myself so could use any suggestions for baby.

I am not sure if I asked all I wanted to ask, but thank you for all of your help!

Answer:

Hi Shaina,

Let me have a go at your questions!

"Natural" disposables vs. cloth:

There are a lot of differing opinions on this and in the end it comes down to what feels right to you. Here's some information I can give you: Many "natural" disposables are made with organic and/or bleach-free paper, but they still use absorbant gel to soak up urine from the baby. Many parents do not like this gel against their baby's skin. It's possible to get gel-free disposable diapers (Tushies is one brand). Personally, if disposables are a choice, these are the ones I feel are best. Because they have no gel they need to be changed about as often as cloth. They can also be more expensive than gel disposables, though getting them on an auto-ship program can make them much more affordable.

Having said that, I have not always used gel-free disposables. They're my preference, but sometimes it just doesn't happen in the course of day-to-day life. I'm not sure if the Huggies Pure and Natural diapers are bleach-free, but we have used them from time to time and found them nice. Scott prefers disposables for larger babies, so we do use them sometimes.

I prefer cloth diapers. Even entering the cloth camp, however, there are many, many choices. The first choice, in my opinion, is between using totally natural fibers and synthetic fibers. Synthetics have a lot going for them and most "all-in-one" and "pocket" diapers use synthetic fabrics. My preference is for all-natural and that's what I use most of the time. I like regular diaper-service-quality prefolds (using a Snappi fastener) and a wool cover (Imse Vimse covers in warm weather, and wool longies in cold weather). This is what I use almost all the time and find it a simple, easy to use system. I do have some pocket diapers with synthetic fabrics which are nice to have on hand sometimes, but they are rarely used. Normally if I need a "quick" diaper or something for travel we choose disposables.

These are just my opinions and a little bit of fact in there - like I said, in the end it comes down to what feels right to you for your baby (and your peace of mind).


Soaps and Moisturizers:

I agree with you on the washes/soaps/moisturizers for baby. I have personally avoided Johnson and Johnson and similar products for all of my babies.

I'm sure you could probably find some information on using Dr. Bronner's for a baby, though I'm not sure if you'd want to dilute or anything similar. My favorite products for baby are from the Weleda company (I have some pictures and links on my page on bathing baby: Bathing Baby). They are all-natural products made with great care - the company has a lot of integrity. I feel that their baby soap is safe and gentle enough for the newborn, should you choose to use soap.

Warm water is good enough for most baby-cleaning jobs, but from time to time I use Weleda baby soap. I also use their baby lotion/cream if my babies have peeling skin or happen to get a rash.

Earth Mama Angel Baby is another company that makes high-quality natural produts for babies. They are my second choice after Weleda.


Giving Birth:

Many women have been where you are - nervous about the whole process of birth and what goes with it. I would recommend that you start by reading many natural birth stories. I have a full page of birth stories: Birth Stories. I also recommend the books Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Spiritual Midwifery as great books to learn about the power and the beauty of natural birth - away from the cultural mindset of birth as a messy, painful thing.

My personal encouragement is that once you enter into the work of giving birth, your mindset shifts as you move to work with the process your body is going through. Things you might notice normally, like blood, sweat, etc. fall away from your consciousness. Having a good attendant - a midwife, doula, knowledgable nurse, or even doctor to help guide you can help a lot too. I would especially recommend a doula - a woman devoted just to you during the birth. She has lots of experience helping women through birth and can greatly aid you in keeping a good focus and increasing your comfort. Take your time and research natural birth. A good childbirth course can also help you feel prepared and ready to birth your baby. Best of luck to you with all of your pregnancy, birth, and baby choices!

Here's an overview of my favorite childbirth courses: Childbirth Class Reviews