SAFE NATURAL CURES & LIVING

Men are physically able to father a child much later than women can normally conceive.  But, the risks increase with the age of the father.

It has long been known that older women have a higher chance of giving birth to a baby with Down Syndrome.  This occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 women under 30, 1 in 400 at 35, and 1 in 6 by age 50.

Researchers now say that the same can be said for older fathers.  Compared to fathers between 20 and 29, the incidence of Down Syndrome increased by 15 percent in men over 35, 30 to 40 percent in men over 40, and 300 percent higher in men over 50.

Older men also have a higher risk of fathering children with Achondroplastic Dwarfism, Marfan Syndrome, or Myositis Ossificans.

New studies also show that older fathers are far more likely to have children with schizophrenia than men under 25.  This increase is 200 percent higher in men between 45 and 49, and 300 percent higher in men over 50.  The age of the mother appears to have no influence.

The risk of autism also increases with the father’s age but not with the mother’s age.  Autism is 5.75 times more likely among children born to men ages 40 to 49, compared with those born to men under 30.

In the old days, it was natural for men to marry before the age of 20, and women were even younger.  Both sexes are most fertile at around 24.  Taking into account the fact that most teenage pregnancies occur on the first “try,” it is probably more accurate to say that both are most fertile from puberty until the age of 24.  Physically, it does make sense to marry before or during the period of peak fertility instead of 5 to 15 years after.

Imagine a bird hatching from its egg.  The process involves an incredible stuggle for life.  The human reaction is to help crack the egg and/or pull away some of the shell.  Helping with the hatching process almost always results in the death of the baby bird.  The same is true for a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.  The process of change, from a fetus to a live baby or from a caterpillar to a butterfly, imparts strengthening and protective properties.

  ~ According to Dr. Sakala of Childbirth Connection, “Cesarean-born babies are more likely to have breathing problems around the time of birth and to experience asthma in childhood and adulthood.  Respiratory benefits also appear to be associated with experiencing the onset and occurrence of labor.  The connection to asthma is less clear and may relate to exposure to beneficial microbes during vaginal birth.” 

  “The studies we reviewed found that a baby who was born by cesarean is [also] less likely to be breastfed and get the benefits of breastfeeding, most likely because the transition from surgery poses challenges for successful initiation of breastfeeding.  The mother’s relationship with her baby can be adversely affected, because a woman who has a cesarean gets less early contact with her baby and is more likely to have initial negative feelings about the baby,” says Dr. Sakala.

  ~ In addition, “Babies born by Caesarean are nearly three times more likely to die in the first month than those born naturally,” according to the BBC News.  “The researchers suggest that the process of labour helps prepare the baby for life outside the womb.  As well as squeezing fluid out of the lungs, it may promote the release of hormones that encourage healthy lung function.  Labour is an important part of the birthing process because it gets infants ready to breathe air and function outside the womb.”

  ~ Finally, a Norwegian study shows that babies born by cesarean to mothers with a food allergy have a much higher chance of developing the life-long food allergy themselves.  The increase of an allergy to egg, fish or nuts is seven fold.  The intestines of a baby are beneficially affected during the natural birth process, and this is bypassed in a cesarean delivery.

There are times when a cesarean delivery is necessary, either for the baby or the mother.  But, cesarean births for unnecessary reasons are on the rise.  Some doctors feel that cesareans offer less chance of problems resulting in lawsuits.  Still others prefer being able to have births fit their schedules, especially when their insurance carriers only cover a specified number of births per month.  Just as unnatural is the new craze of mothers choosing a cesarean birth in advance simply to bypass the pain of labor or so they can select the birthdate (or astrological sign) they prefer for their baby.  We should take a lesson from birds and butterflies.

The world began as a perfect place, and we were given all that we need.  Even though the world is no longer a perfect place, who’s to say that we don’t still have all that we need.  Here are just a few examples of “medicines” found in nature.

• Aspirin was one of the greatest discoveries ever, but it was found in the bark and leaves of the willow tree.
• Cranberry juice will prevent a urinary tract infection.
• Apple cider vinegar lowers blood pressure and takes away the pain and restriction of movement caused by arthritis.
• Eating turkey will put an insomniac right to sleep.
• Garlic will lower the bad cholesterol.

When there is a choice, the natural way seems best.

~ Natural remedies do affect the body and can be strong “medicine.”  Using two at once can result in each cancelling out the other or in getting too much of a good thing.