During pregnancy, mothers frequently hear offers of help after the baby comes. Sentiments like "Call me if you need anything!" are frequently heard. While the people who say this generally have the best of intentions, it is sometimes difficult for mothers to ask for help after they've had a baby. Often, "help" looks like someone coming over to hold the baby (the fun, easy part!) while the freshly postpartum mother cleans the house and does the laundry! Our society has a very strong mindset of "do it yourself," and mothers may not feel comfortable asking for help. Even if they do feel comfortable asking, they may not even know what they … [Read more...]

Essential oils are becoming extremely popular in both mainstream and natural health circles. Since it is a young field in the United States, it can be hard to find solid information. This can lead women to wonder how breastfeeding, essential oils, and safety mix.   Essential oils are highly potent substances, and our nursing babies have immature systems that are still developing. The safety of breastfeeding essential oils is a really important topic to consider! There are many misconceptions about essential oils, so be sure to check the sources for any advice that you find on breastfeeding, essential oils, and safety. I've … [Read more...]

The first few months of breastfeeding have been rough for me with each baby. I've struggled with depression and breastfeeding every time, lasting for the first few months. This depression is a bit different. It comes on very strong each time I have a letdown and lessens as baby nurses. It's not just depression. It has a name and it's real. It's called D-MER or Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex. And it's not fun.   I had never heard of D-MER prior to starting a family. After my first, I was surprised by my feelings of intense anxiety and depression surrounding breastfeeding. I thought it was all in my head. I didn't talk to my … [Read more...]

It's no surprise that having a baby changes our lives. In a relationship, what is quickly noticed is the change in intimacy. It goes beyond the long six weeks that sex is advised against. Breastfeeding and intimacy may not always go hand in hand. But don't worry, it's not all bad.   I recently asked many breastfeeding mothers how intimacy has been affected since having their baby. I must say, I am SHOCKED with just how much their love life has been affected. The obvious growth of breast size is the first thing they mention. Their partners just LOVE IT! Throw in the heightened sensitivity and you have a fiesta. Outside … [Read more...]

Pinterest is an excellent resource for finding a new recipe or your next DIY project, but have you considered looking to Pinterest for breastfeeding advice? There is a significant lack of Pinterest profiles dedicated to breastfeeding support, but there are many breastfeeding themed boards worth following. 7 Breastfeeding Themed Pinterest Boards Worth Following I personally follow or contribute to each of these Pinterest boards dedicated to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Mamas Support and Love - 1,700+ followers Pregnancy, Birthing, Breastfeeding, & All Things BABY! - 12,700+ followers Breastfeeding - 3,700+ … [Read more...]

We made a very long road trip not long ago. 1200 miles long to be exact. While we are used to road trips with kids this was my first with a baby under one and exclusively breastfed. I must say it went way better than I expected. Traveling with your kids can be a blessing and sometimes needed for one reason or another. Whether it's summer vacation or heading home for the holidays, at some point you may find yourself in a car for a very long time with your breastfeeding baby. Breastfeeding on road trips can save you a lot of stress as cleaning bottles becomes a non-issue. Tips for Breastfeeding on Road Trips Pack lots of snacks when you … [Read more...]

I wish I knew back then what I know now about these amazing little nursing shields - this simple item saved our breastfeeding relationship! But first, a little history... My first baby was less than a day old and still hadn’t nursed for more than a few minutes. Since she was a large baby and I was overweight, she was having her blood sugar checked every couple of hours. It had dropped so the nurses said they recommended giving her a bottle. She sucked it down. It was a horrible moment to me to think I was failing my baby so quickly. It just seemed like she wasn’t able to get attached. The lactation consultant and nurses tried helping me … [Read more...]

Last week I shared why it's important for us to provide our children (even our teens) with the type of training that normalizes breastfeeding - you can read that post here. We want to prepare them to be comfortable with breastfeeding and breastfeeders. But I promised you some tips for how to do this, so here are breastfeeding awareness parenting tips - feel free to share with others so we can continue to normalize this beautiful aspect of mothering. Breastfeeding Awareness Parenting Tips Expose your children to breastfeeding mamas. Don’t shy away from them, and don't be embarrassed to be close by when a mom is nursing her baby. My … [Read more...]

When I was birthing and nursing my youngest two, my husband was a pastor for young adults, just attending college or beginning their careers. As a mentor to the young women, I saw it as part of my calling to model natural parenting and to help cultivate "breastfeeding awareness" with them. So several of the girls were with us in the birthing room, and I never went away to nurse our babies. I was always discreet, but I also made it a point for breastfeeding to be a "normal" part of our family life, in which many of the young people we mentored became welcome regulars. I laughed one afternoon at a church praise team practice when a young man … [Read more...]

Let's all admit it - being a new mom is hard. There is advice coming at us from all angles and all advice seems to say something different. Add in sleep deprivation and the fear of making a mistake and ruining our children - you get my drift. It's helpful to have things broken down to examine on our own. Let's take a look at the Dr. Denmark Feeding Schedule and see if it can work for us while breastfeeding. Dr. Denmark is a fairly well known and well respected pediatrician. She has written some books, the most popular being "Dr. Denmark Said It!" which outlines her feeding schedule. The Dr. Denmark Feeding Schedule Baby is to be fed … [Read more...]