Page 2 - Breastfeeding & Nutrition
Breastfeeding Success and Baby Nutrition
Nourish with comfort. Thrive with ease.
From first latch to first foods, we’re here to help you and your baby get the hang of breastfeeding—because your journey should be as easy as it is rewarding.
High expectations. Low milk supply. The two sides of breastfeeding.
Challenging beginnings. Beautiful bonds.
Breastfeeding is a learning curve—for both you and your baby. With thoughtfully designed products, we make it easier for you to feel confident and supported every step of the way.
FAQs: Common Breastfeeding Questions Answered
Breastfeeding, Simplified
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How do I get a good latch?
Ergonomic breastfeeding pillows position your baby for success and reduce strain on you.
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Can I breastfeed in a baby carrier?
Yes! Ergobaby carriers are designed to support discreet feeding on the go. Learn how to breastfeed in a baby carrier here or schedule a free 1:1 consultation with a babywearing expert!
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What clothing makes breastfeeding easier?
Nursing bras from Belly Bandit provide easy access and incredible comfort for every feed.
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When should I wean my baby?
When to wean your baby is all about personal preference. Every baby is different. Some parents might wean as they go back to work. Others may nurse into the toddler years. When you’re ready to wean, here is a helpful guide to starting solids and baby food stages.
Breastfeeding Tips from Experts
From Latch to Letdown
• Position your baby comfortably with a supportive breastfeeding pillow.
• Use a baby carrier to feed hands-free while staying close to your baby.
• Try different nursing positions to see what’s comfortable and helps you get a good latch.
• Get a cozy nursing bra for easy feeding, pumping, and all-day comfort.
• Whether it’s breast milk, formula, or a combo of both, fed is best!
• Take care of your mental health so you can care for baby.
Ergonomic Positioning, Meal Time Success
Products Designed for You and Your Baby
Newborn Advantage
When everything’s new, the Ergobaby Embrace baby carrier helps you and your newborn get into the rhythm of breastfeeding.
Options for Every Budget
Pre-loved and on sale carriers so you don’t have to settle for less.
Ergonomic Support
For stress-free and comfortable feeding sessions and mealtimes.
Complete Confidence
Free shipping, free returns, and a lifetime guarantee.
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Helped me!
The swaddle helped my baby sleep longer stretches, and the bouncer was perfect for soothing her during fussy moments. I finally feel like we’re getting some rest!
– Sarah, first-time mom
Truly a dream!
I have tried several carriers and this one is the best. The lumbar support is great as someone still recovering from giving birth. My favorite thing, though, is how amazing soft the cotton fabric is.
- Madeleine L, On the Omni Dream Baby Carrier
A must have for a newborn!
It is so easy to put on (much faster than the wraps) and my 6-week-old finds it comfortable and soothing - he often falls asleep in it! I also like that my husband and I can both use it!
- Emily, On the Embrace Newborn Carrier
Featured Breastfeeding Essentials and First Food Helpers
Your Feeding Journey Starts Here
Omni Baby Carrier
Nurse discreetly while keeping your baby close.
Natural Curve Nursing Pillow
Comfortable, ergonomic support for a better latch.
Belly Bandit Nursing Bras
Functional, comfortable, and made for every feed.
Evolve High Chair
Grows with your little one - from first foods to toddler chair to helping make dinner themselves.
Featured Products for Better Sleep
Sleep Essentials to Save Your Nights
Make Breastfeeding Easier Today
Comfort, Convenience, Confidence—All in One Place
Whether you're feeding at home or on the go, Ergobaby has the tools you need to nourish your baby and yourself.
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Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
January 05, 2017
Oh, the joys of pregnancy! As soon as you announce your pregnancy, everyone under the sun, from your mother-in-law to your massage therapist, starts to pepper you with advice. A lot of is helpful, but some of it is downright wrong, especially as it relates to what to eat to fuel your growing baby. Here’s a no-nonsense list of foods that are packed with the essential nutrients your little one needs for healthy growth and development. Time to eat up momma!
Avocado
If you've been plagued by leg cramps during your pregnancy, it's time to get more avocado. Half of this creamy, delicious fruit contains 345mg of potassium, 114 calories, and nearly 5g of fiber. A lack of potassium can cause leg muscles to cramp. During pregnancy you need 4700mg daily of the mineral, which sounds like a shocking amount, but most fruits and vegetables contain at least some potassium. If you’re breastfeeding, that amount jumps to 5100mg per day, so it’s smart to get used to packing lots of this important electrolyte
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
December 01, 2016
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s hard not to get swept up in the hullaballoo. But this year you have the perfect excuse for getting out of it—your beautiful, hungry newborn who also needs her sleep. But it’s not just your new babe that’s beautiful and needs sleep—your recovering body and new family need a break, too.
If you are nursing an infant, I would advise against hosting large events in your home. Too many people can equal too much stress. You want to protect yourself from becoming run down. If you’re not doing well, you can’t provide as much to your little one. So, give yourself a pass. You just had a baby. When new moms try to take on too much they run the risk of developing low milk supply to mastitis.
Mastitis (when your breast tissue becomes painfully inflamed and you have tendency to have ‘flu’ like symptoms) can occur at any stage of lactation, the most common time is within the first 3 to 4 weeks after giving birth. The stress and fatigue of being a first-time
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
November 22, 2016
I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker, but after having a baby I welcomed the occasional pick-me-up after a sleepless night. A morning cup of coffee soon became a daily ritual and I knew deep down that it wasn't serving me. Instead of making me an energized supermom, coffee was leaving me anxious, jittery, and much less patient. Caffeine causes your adrenal glands to produce stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This can leave you less capable of managing stress, and we all know that motherhood can be a little stressful at times. Excessive caffeine has also been shown to leach calcium and reduce iron absorption, two nutrients that are essential during the postpartum period.
Your coffee consumption may affect you baby as well. Some breastfed babies may be sensitive to caffeine present in mother’s breast milk. Signs of caffeine stimulation in a baby can include being unusually fussy, wide-eyed, overly alert or active, and not staying asleep for long.
How much is too much?
Aiming for
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
September 27, 2016
Pregnancy is such an exciting time, but it can also be a time full of uncertainty. Proper prenatal nutrition is essential for both you and your baby, but figuring out what to eat can be very confusing. There are so many decisions to make when you’re pregnant, but while you’re picking out baby names and decorating the nursery, it's important to make nutrition a priority as well. Fueling your body with nutrient dense foods will help provide your baby with the best start possible.
First Trimester Nutrients
A well balanced diet is key throughout your entire pregnancy, but certain nutrients play an essential role in each trimester. Basic water-soluble vitamins B & C become a focal point in the first trimester. The most well know first trimester vitamin is B9, folate, which helps protect your baby from the risk of neural tube defects. Vitamin C is important during all stages of pregnancy, but it works to support your immune system in the first trimester, which is often taxed in early pregnancy.
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
August 16, 2016
photo courtesy of Lindsey Shipley/Lactation Link
Your body is your baby's first home, and this relationship doesn’t need to end just because he’s out of the womb. Now out in the world, your babe wants to spend all of his time on top of your body. This is where he first learns about scent, touch, sight, hearing, taste and trust, along with many other things. Skin to skin, also known as Kangaroo Care, is a way to maintain that unique closeness you and baby shared when he was in your womb. Kangaroo care refers to the practice of holding your diapered babe—be he premature, full term or anytime during infancy—against your bare chest, with either a shirt or a blanket around the baby’s back to keep him warm. This snuggling of the infant against the body makes like a kangaroo’s pouch—hence the name, Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care can begin in most cases immediately after birth and can continue as long as you want to practice. There is no age at which skin to skin is no longer recommended. Skin
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
July 08, 2016
I recently wrote a blog about my grocery store lists and foods I always have in my kitchen. Today's post is going to give you a few ideas of things you can make with those items. This blog will focus on our daily routines and plant-based, dairy-free meal ideas. Developing routines and food prepping in advance have cut in half the amount of time I spend preparing meals. Here are some routines we have implemented into our daily lives. Sidenote: If you haven't already, invest in a high powered blender. I recommend the Blendec or Vitamix. I love my Blendtec and use it everyday.
Routine #1: Lemon Water
I try to start every day with 8 ounces of room temperature or warm water with juice from 1/2 a lemon.
Routine # 2: Green Smoothies
We have a green smoothie every day before breakfast. It took awhile for this to become a habit, but when I got pregnant I drank one every single day, and have ever since. You can get so many nutrients from a smoothie and it's just a
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
June 07, 2016
While some women never experience nipple pain when breastfeeding, for many new mothers nipple soreness in the first few days is very common. In fact, sore nipples are the number one reason most women give up on breastfeeding. It’s really a shameful statistic, since, for most women, the pain and tenderness is only temporary and usually lessens after a matter of days. In the first few days of breastfeeding, tender and sore nipples are to be expected. However, cracked and bleeding nipple conditions that last longer than a week should send a signal to new mothers that something more is going on, and it may be time to seek professional help. When a baby first latches on, there may be some level of pain. I always tell my clients to count to 30 and see if the pain level abates. If her pain doesn’t lessen up, it probably means they baby has not latched on or positioned properly. The solution is simple: try to take her off and latch her back on again. Your nipple should look
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
May 12, 2016
When I first discovered I'd be having a C-section, I felt frightened and overwhelmed. Like many new moms, my C-section was unexpected and I hadn't thought about it or prepared for it. While meeting my son for the first time was incredible, my overall experience was very negative. I had missed out on some essential bonding time with my baby after delivery; struggled with breastfeeding; and overall, did not feel adequately supported.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I knew that if I needed another C-section, I wanted it to be very different from my first experience. I spoke with several maternal health professionals, had a prenatal visit with a lactation consultant, and created a plan to have a better c-section. My second c-section was a remarkably smoother and very positive experience. Here are some tips that have helped me have a better C-section experience.
1. Know your hospital policies
Make sure to inquire about your hospitals policies regarding the care of you and your baby. Is
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
May 11, 2016
This is the first in a series of posts from a handful of guest bloggers, documenting baby's first year. This first post comes from talented writer and mama of two, Megan. Visit her Instagram account here, and read on to enjoy a peek into her life with her newborn.
The tiny girl that I carried for nine months and could hardly imagine is finally here in my life and it’s truly extraordinary. I was so distracted by my two-year-old son during this pregnancy that I really could never wrap my mind around the idea of two --- although I’m not sure I could imagine life with my son before he was born either. These first few weeks with León have been hectic, challenging, exciting and undeniably sweet. When I was finally feeling up to it, we decided that we wanted to be surrounded by our close family to help with the transition from one child to two. We ended up traveling a lot to my husband’s parents’ house and to my mom’s house. Packing up everything we needed every time we left was tedious and time
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
April 18, 2016
What happens when we find out we are going to be a mother? Is that the moment we receive the implanted “mommy chip” and become equipped with mother’s intuition? Are we born with it? I remember being pregnant with my first and asking my sisters “What if…?” too many times to count. After working with thousands of Moms and being a mother of 2 myself, I’m a firm believer in “Mama knows best”. Still, so many women ask me, “How can I feel more confident in my choices as a Mom?” Today I’m sharing three ways to tap into your mother’s intuition.
Get educated on all things mom/baby wellness
It’s a great idea to take prenatal classes, read books, and start making some parenting choices before baby even gets here. This gives you a chance to “practice” being a Mom and envision yourself in that role. That doesn’t mean that your views won’t change later! Motherhood takes a lot of adapting to the different stages and what’s working in the moment. Prenatal education gives you a better idea of the many