Our whole family seems to have come down with a cold. It started with the toddler, who ran a fever one afternoon. Then I caught it, and passed it on to my nursing son. My husband didn’t take long to follow, and before we knew it, we were all sick.

Having a sick household is no fun, to say the least. Between all the coughing and sneezing and fevers, we are all miserable. But it gave us a chance to try some natural ways to soothe our colds – without side effects. Here are the ones that worked best for us.

• Steam for congestion. A humidifier in the bedroom can provide some much needed humidity to the dry indoor air – use a cool mist humidifier in kids’ rooms. If you don’t have a humidifier or need quicker relief, a steamy hot shower can work wonders. Adults can take a hot shower, or you can just close the bathroom door and turn on the hot shower, letting the steam collect in the room. Be careful not to let little ones overheat.

• Honey and lemon for sore throats. Combine equal parts lemon juice and honey, then microwave for about 10 seconds on high power. Stir and serve, one teaspoon at a time. The honey helps to soothe and coat the throat, and reduces the urge to cough. The lemon dries up congestion and mitigates some of the scratchy, rough feeling throat. Note: Honey is not safe for babies under 1 year of age.

• Chicken soup. Nothing is more comforting for a cold than a warm bowl of chicken soup. Try chicken or other broths for young children – float goldfish crackers on top to get them interested in eating.

• Rest and TLC. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do but rest. When you can, take a nap or just lie down on the couch – cuddle up with the kids to help them to rest as well. Take care of yourself and your kids – give them a little extra love and relax the rules a bit. In our household, we let our daughter watch a little more Sesame Street, usually curled up with one of us on the couch. It helps her to settle down and is nice to have some down time together.

A sick household is never fun, but there are natural ways to help everyone feel better.

Over the last weeks there has been talk about ways to increase milk supply.

Most recently, Mrs. H. has had to tackle this issue, that many breast feeding mamas face. I too, was there when my son was 6 months old and had started solids, but was not ready yet to wean.

There has also been discussion about using Fenugreek, which is a galactogogue?an herb or prescription drug used to increase milk supply. While they do have their place, and work for some women, there are ways to increase milk supply without them. Galactogogues should also not be taken without first consulting your doctor, midwife or other health care practitioner who is completely familiar with your medical history, as should be done with any advice given that affects your or your child’s health.

As a breast-feeding mama, who was concerned that my milk supply was decreasing, I learned that I had to go back to the basics and take a new approach breastfeeding my son when I hit this point in our nursing relationship.

The first thing to remember when it comes to breast feeding is that while hormones do play a pivotal role, it is also controlled by the law of supply and demand.

There are also times when you may think that your milk supply is low, when it may not be. These times include but are not limited to:

• Hormonal changes (such as the return of your cycle)
• Increase in other sources of nourishment such as solids or if you are supplementing, formula.
• You find that you cannot pump as much any more.
• You no longer feel the let-down sensation.
• You are not getting enough rest or are stressed.

Before you get very concerned, ask yourself:

• Is he having a growth spurt?
• Is she still nursing happily and comfortably?
• Is he still wetting/soiling his diapers regularly?
• Has she started solids or been taking a bottle (expressed milk or formula) more often?
• Are you more tired than usual?
• Are you experiencing any unusual stress?from work, from travel, from family-related issues?
• Is your support system strong and encouraging?
• Are you eating/drinking well?keeping yourself well-nourished?
• Could you be pregnant or is your regular post-partum cycle returning?

Some tips for naturally increasing your milk supply

• Increase your healthy, lean protein intake. This can mean lean meats, beans and legumes.
• Increase your fluids?that is water and whole juices. (Skip the caffeine and diet drinks, if possible.)
• Make sure that you are consuming enough calories daily. Remember, that just like when you were pregnant, breast feeding mamas need more calories than women who are not breast feeding.
• Get adequate rest.
• Don’t watch the clock while nursing. Nurse until your baby has finished one side, then offer the other side. (If he is full, offer that side at the next feeding. Pump if you need to relieve pressure, but still offer the un-nursed side at the next feeding.)
• If you can, take a “nursing vacation” even if it means just on the weekend, if you work out of the house. This means do nothing but nurse-on-demand, eat and drink healthy foods and beverages and rest. You may have to bring her to bed with you, or have her in the room with you. Delegate the household responsibilities to others and focus on your and your baby’s nourishment.
• Try pumping and nursing at the same time. (This is called switch nursing.) While nursing him on one side, pump the other side. Before he’s finished on that side, switch him and the pump.
• When you’re nursing (or pumping) make sure that you’re relaxed and calm.
• When you can and if you feel comfortable doing so, lose the bra (especially if it’s an under-wire bra). Ditching the bra will help encourage blood flow and promote good circulation. Your bra, no matter how “unstructured” it is, will constrict your breasts to some degree.
• Try massage. Work in a circular motion with your fingertips from your armpits down and from underneath them up and all around towards the center. Do this on each side. (It is a good idea to do this right before nursing or pumping.)
• Try nipple stimulation. Nipple stimulation releases into the bloodstream oxytocin, which is the hormone responsible for the milk ejection reflex.
• Try warm compresses or a rice-sock that has been warmed in the microwave for about 30 seconds before and during nursing or pumping.
• Get support and help from other breast-feeding mamas and/or a lactation consultant especially if your spouse/partner or family network is not as supportive as you need them to be.

These may or may not work for you, depending upon your unique situation. But, as someone who has tried them and ended up nursing successfully until child-led weaning at 15 months, I can say with a certain degree of reliability that they can work. If they do not work (and it may take a few days to “reclaim” your supply) there may be other issues at play, and you should definitely consult your health care provider.

As always, before embarking on any changes that relate to your health, consult a licensed medical professional who is aware of your and your child’s medical histories.

For additional resources see:

• Breastfeeding 101
• Retaining Milk Supply
• Tips for Breastfeeding Success
• La Leche League
• kellymom.com

It starts with the pink cheeks. Then come the bright eyes, the hoarse whisper and your shirt being used as a tissue. Last fall, the FDA recommended that children under the age of two not take any cough or cold medicines as they have not been proven to be effective and may have adverse effects. So how do you help a tiny nose?

Bea Kunz of Sage Hill Farms in Petersburg, TN, suggests taking a more natural route to better health through teas and herbs that are easily added to your diet.

“If we focus on prevention when children are small and treat the everyday and minor ills with herbal and natural means, more than likely they will never have to deal with many of the issues that seem to follow from childhood into adulthood,” Bea said, “asthma and eczema being two of the biggest culprits.” She adds, “The herb world abounds with gentle and effective plants that can help respiratory problems and leave your child stronger and healthier in the end results. Wild Cherry Bark, Horehound, Hyssop and Coltsfoot are a few to think seriously about getting acquainted with.”

So how do you incorporate these great herbs in your meals? Bea shared with us on of her family’s favorite recipes:

Herbi Egg Bake
2 Tbsp real butter
1/2 tsp chopped chives
1/2 tsp dried parsley
dash of dried tarragon
dash of dried thyme
4 eggs
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 325F degrees

Combine butter with dried herbs and divide into the cups.

Place cups in a shallow baking pan

Place in oven until butter is melted

Break an egg into each cup

Top with 1 TBSP cream and 1 TBSP cheese per cup

Bake 12 to 15 minutes just until the eggs are done.

Serve these alongside your child’s favorite fruit and toast with a wee bit of honey or jam.

When illness does invade your home, a soft cuddle, a warm kiss and plenty of love are the best cold remedies. Heck, you don’t even need to struggle with the childproof cap…

Although experiencing a cold or flu during pregnancy is quite normal and often the result of inflamed mucus membranes due to overactive hormones, a mother-to-be can feel conflicted as to whether or not she should use over-the-counter medications to help relieve congestion or fever. To treat mild symptoms of the cold or flu, there are several things a pregnant woman can do that are all-natural and require no medication. If your cold or flu doesn?t clear after trying these natural remedies, however, or you are running more than a low-grade fever, be sure to consult with your care provider for additional advice and treatment.

• Get plenty of rest.
• Increase your fluid intake. Drink freshly-squeezed citrus juice, low-sodium broth, or decaffeinated tea as an alternative to water.
• Eat a balanced diet rich in citrus fruits, such as orange and pineapple.
• Prepare a steam bath. Fill a bowl with hot water and, using a towel, bend over the bowl and cover your head. Breathe deeply to open your nasal passages.
• Sleep with your head elevated.
• Gargle with warm salt water.