The holidays are quickly approaching, which for many families means cold weather, travel, parties, and changes in general routines. All these things can be tough for babies—and what’s tough for babies, is tough for moms! Here are some common issues that arise over the holidays, and a few suggestions for handling them so you can better enjoy the magic of the season! I’m worried about traveling with my baby. For some families, holiday travel is inevitable. Stressful at the best of times, traveling with a baby brings a whole new set of challenges. What if my flight is delayed? How can I keep baby happy during long car rides? How do I travel with pumped breast milk?...
From eating oatmeal to drinking a beer, women receive a lot of confusing advice on what to eat or drink while breastfeeding to help boost or maintain their supply! A substance that increases milk production is known as a galactagogue (also spelled galactagogue). While galactagogues have not been evaluated by the FDA or even studied much, anecdotal evidence suggests they can be powerful breastfeeding supports. Before taking a galactagogue, it’s important to make sure your milk supply is actually low. Factors such as how your breasts feel, how long your baby sleeps, frequency of nursing, and the amount you pump are not accurate ways to determine if you have enough milk! If you do determine your milk supply is low,...
We're sharing one of our favorite lactation Fall recipes from Eat to Feed using Oat Mama's Brewer's Yeast. "Our flagship granola recipe featuring the famous galactagogue trinity: oats, flax, and brewer's yeast. Maple-kissed and baked to golden perfection, our personal favorite go-to granola is studded with roasted pecans, pumpkin seeds, and crunchy puffed millet. If you've never baked a fresh granola at home, it is a life-affirming act. The warm, comforting aroma that envelops the kitchen is enough to give your milk a letdown. Sprinkle the granola on your oatmeal or smoothie, or enjoy a bowl with milk or mixed into yogurt. We also can't think of a more loving and thoughtful gift to bring to a new mom...
We're sharing Allison's story of giving birth to her son, Akin, at 24 weeks. When I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, it was 2 months before my 36th birthday. When I went to my initial doctor’s appointment they kept throwing out the phrase geriatric pregnancy! I was like, hold up, I’m barely 36 ya’ll! My other 2 pregnancies were healthy, natural, and without incident. I am a regular exerciser so of course this is what i did throughout the pregnancy. I had just had my 24th week of pregnancy (we had had a gender reveal party a week previous and found out we were having a 3rd boy). It was a Friday night and...
Vanessa is a NICU nurse and mother to four, and she is currently pregnant with her second set of twins! Here she shares her thoughts about being a NICU nurse and her own experience as a NICU mother. I have been a NICU nurse for ten years. I knew right from the start when entering nursing school, I wanted to do something with kids, specifically babies. My first clinicals were with moms and babies and I was given the chance to take an infant to the NICU. This is where my decision was made and set in stone. The nurses working with the smallest of humans had me in awe and just knew that's where I was...
