Читать книгу Informed Choices in Motherhood - Fiona Lee - Страница 2

Introduction

“There is no single effort more radical in its potential to save the world, than a transformation in the way we raise our children”

- Marianne Williamson

For many women those first few years of motherhood are an intense and challenging time. No longer focused solely on our needs, our world revolves around the wellbeing of our precious child. Long days and sleepless nights become part of life. In an ideal world our maternal instincts would be respected, however in today's society this is sadly not the case. Women are being encouraged to go against their intuition by a system that thrives on keeping us disconnected and uninformed. It is within this system that mothers are not being given true informed consent when it comes to important choices that we must make for both ourselves and our children.

Informed consent is the voluntary agreement given by an individual to have a medical intervention or procedure after they receive all valid information relating to it.

Which brings me to the reason why I wrote this book…

It was a few years ago, when my children were still young babies, when I was still changing nappies, surviving on very little sleep and trying to navigate life as a new mother, that I had the idea to write a book that would support and empower women. Amidst the chaos of raising two young children, I was beginning to realize what a dangerous time it is that we are living in - A time where misinformation is taken as the truth, where true informed consent is virtually non-existent, and where children have higher rates of chronic disease than at any other time in history.

In many parts of the world our parental rights are slowly being chipped away at, with parents losing the freedom to raise their children in the way that they choose.

We are living at a time when we should have the most accurate and up-to-date information at our fingertips. However, rather than being given the facts, we are lied to. We are told that our healthy pregnant bodies are incapable of giving birth naturally. We are pressured into high-risk medical procedures, and worst of all, we are told to ignore our instincts.

This is why parents like myself, and so many others around the world are taking back control of our family’s health, and being inspired to find natural alternatives outside of what our society deems to be the norm. Mothers all over the world are realizing that they need to be empowered to make their own decisions, instead of following the status quo.

My own journey from toxic lifestyle to conscious parenting

There was a time when I had very little knowledge when it came to health. I went to the doctor often (because both my physical and mental health were so bad), and by my early twenties had been through a long list of prescription medications that included anti-anxiety drugs, as well as several different antidepressants.

Needless to say, I felt terrible, both physically and emotionally.

Finally, in my mid-twenties, I began to wake up. I started to gain an understanding of what true health really was, and that everything I had been doing up until this time had been pushing me further from it. Instead of simply 'masking' my symptoms with medication, I began to look at the root cause.

I studied everything I could about holistic healing and natural medicine, and in the process changed my whole lifestyle.

Like many people, it was my suffering that led me to take responsibility for my own health and wellbeing. In a way I am grateful for this stage of my life, not only because I regained my health, but also because it gave me the insight I needed to birth and raise my two children in a way that gave them the very best start in life. It gave me the knowledge to trust my intuition and look at the real information and research beyond the parenting myths and narratives that exist today.

I birthed both my babies at home, and from birth my partner and I have taken a natural approach to parenting. Our children are vibrantly healthy and happy, and I believe the choices we made in those early years are reflected today in their bright eyes, energetic bodies and clear skin. Something I try to focus on when it comes to my family’s well-being is minimizing toxins. Our modern world may have many advantages to it, but it has also created practices and products that are incredibly toxic to both our bodies and our environment. This is why we have to take steps early on to minimize the toxins that go into our own, and our children’s bodies. This is just one of the many topics I've covered in detail in this book.

Within these pages you will find information on making informed choices through the various stages of motherhood, based on the most up-to-date research.

There are six parts to this book: The first two parts are all about pregnancy and birth and include vital information on prenatal care, medical procedures during pregnancy, supplementation, natural birth and birth interventions. Part three is about the first few months of your baby’s life as a newborn and reveals the truth behind common parenting myths, as well as research on many important topics such as co-sleeping, first foods, SIDS and breastfeeding. Part four is all about childhood vaccinations and includes a breakdown of the vaccines that are given in childhood, their ingredients, and the risks involved with each one. Each of the common childhood diseases that we vaccinate for are also explained in detail. Part Five is all about natural immunity and includes tips to boost your child’s immune system and their overall health and wellbeing. Part six is about the natural remedies you can implement in your family’s daily life. I have also included an A – Z of minor health conditions in children and natural remedies for them. All the studies cited throughout are included in the reference section.

This is not your typical parenting book, but it is a book for mothers who prefer to think for themselves and follow their inner guidance. We may all be unique in the way we parent, but what we all have in common is wanting what’s best for our families. Being informed is about being empowered to do the very best we can for the health of our children, now and for years to come.

Disclaimer & Copyright

This book is for informational purposes only. All of the information is my opinion based on my general experience and research. Consider it as general advice. It is not specific to your personal health or your child’s health. It is not a substitute for consultation with your medical practitioner or naturopath. It is not a replacement for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. None of the information given in this book is intended to diagnose, cure or treat disease. Please always use your own discernment and seek professional advice as needed. The information in this book may not be copied, reprinted or redistributed, without written permission.