Motherhood
Motherhood
June 24, 2016
This is part of a series where Elizabeth Bachner, Midwife and owner of the Gracefull Birth Center, answers questions from parents and parents-to-be. You can learn more about Elizabeth here. And to submit a question, see the email address provided at the bottom of this post.
Dear Elizabeth,
Hi! I’m 38 weeks and 4 days and my doctor has told me that it is his hospital policy for me to be induced at 40 weeks. I’m in a panic, because I had NO idea that this was the policy. I don’t want to put my baby at risk, but I was born at 41 weeks, my sister was born at 41 weeks and 4 days and my mother says that all the babies come late in our family. I’m so scared that the baby will not come until after 40 weeks and I will have to be induced. Any suggestions? -Sacred2BLate
Hello Scared2BLate,
Your question is one of the
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
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
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
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.
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
March 31, 2016
The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, and that babies continue to breastfeed for one year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby.
Here are a few tips to help you get moving in the right direction with your little one:
Get help before baby arrives. Plan to take a pre-natal breastfeeding class. It’s important to understand the basic science of breastfeeding so you can take confidence in your body doing what it is designed to do and provide for your baby. What are the stages of milk production? How much milk does your baby really need in the first few days of life? What does it mean to properly position your infant and latch? Knowledge and at least thinking about the questions of how to nourish your baby will serve you well before your little one arrives. Don’t wait to get help and reach out if you have small questions or big concerns. Take the time to think about what’s coming so you can trust yourself and
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
March 17, 2016
There’s so much advice out there on breastfeeding, it can be tough to recognize the myths from truth. You can overhear women giving advice in support circles, in waiting rooms, and in line at the grocery store. What advice is worth listening to? In order to get the answer, I went straight to my online breastfeeding support forum to ask what snippets other expectant and breastfeeding moms have found helpful.
Some myths
“Colostrum isn’t enough to meet babies needs”
For the first few days of your baby’s life, newborns will be accessing a form of breastmilk called colostrum. It’s nutrient-dense and contains so many disease-fighting properties that can’t be found anywhere else! No wonder it’s referred to as “liquid gold." Even though it’s not large in volume, colostrum can still meet the needs of a newborn (1).
“It’s normal for your nipples to hurt”
There’s a difference between postpartum
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
March 03, 2016
Bananas are a great food for little ones. They have a soft texture and natural sweetness that babies love. Ripe bananas are easy to digest and provide needed energy for growing bodies.
We also eat a lot of eggs in our house. When my son was introduced to solids we started with egg yolks and waited to introduce the whole egg with whites. The yolks are where the most beneficial nutrients are found. They are stocked with B vitamins, healthy fats, choline, and the harder to obtain fat-soluble vitamins A & D.
Once we introduced egg whites, these healthy flourless banana pancakes were a hit! They include only 3-ingredients and are super simple to make.
Eggs contain an easily absorbable form of iron, a nutrient that babies start to require more of around the time solids are introduced. If the eggs are pasture raised they also contain the powerful fat needed for babies brains, DHA.
Ingredients
1.5 bananas *should be quite ripe with brown spots
2 large eggs
1/8 teaspoon
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
March 02, 2016
Happy IBCLC Day! The International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants Day falls on the first Wednesday of March. And it’s a great day to recognize those that helped you to reach your breastfeeding goals.
With that in mind today, I wanted to share many of the ways that IBCLCs love to help empower you to meet your personal breastfeeding goals.
We are there to help you even before your little one arrives.
Taking a prenatal breastfeeding class with an IBCLC is a great way to get off on the right breastfeeding foot. Not only will it help you feel more confident right from the start but also can provide you the tools to recognize any issues you might have so you can get the support you need right away.
We aren’t just here for you when the baby is brand new.
Getting ready to go back to work? Thinking of starting solids? We love to help mamas and babies throughout the entire feeding journey.
We love to support moms and babies not only in times of joy but also
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
February 18, 2016
When my little one was ready for solid foods I decided to use the baby-led weaning approach. In this method finger foods are introduced right from the start and purees are skipped altogether. It was a fantastic fit for my family and I believe it really helped our son establish healthy eating habits. He’s almost 2 years old now and has a fantastic appetite with an impressively adventurous palate. Here are some reasons that we love about baby-led weaning.
Experiencing & exploring foods
Babies love the opportunity to interact with food! If spoon-feeding, there are still some approaches from baby-led weaning that help engage baby in mealtime. Babies often spit out puree and try to grab it with their hands. That's because they're curious and want to be involved, but parents are usually quick to wipe it up or scoop it back into baby's mouth. Try putting a small spoonful of puree on your baby’s tray for them to touch & taste on their own before you begin feeding - and again