Motherhood
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
August 24, 2012
I feel very blessed to have nursed all three of my children for varying lengths, but it is since my youngest has stopped nursing that I see something new and special... something unexpected in the bond beyond breastfeeding.
Gwyneth nursed for about 27 months and when she stopped nursing my breasts were not automatically "mine" again, much to my surprise. With my first two children they just sort of moved onto something else - case closed so to speak. Some 9 months now after breastfeeding, Gwenny still claims my breasts as her own and she will fight me if I say that they are mine. She still prefers to fall asleep with her hand on my chest, and if she catches Daddy looking at them she will sometimes cover me up with my blanket and tell me that she is protecting me (or them?). I find it all comical and we play and laugh, but more than anything I am touched by the notion that my body is still her comfort. Though I am no longer providing her physical nourishment, I am still giving her emotional
Motherhood
Pregnancy & Birth
August 16, 2012
When I was a first time mom, I got a lot of advice. I even got advice about people's advice! Now that I've been through three years of motherhood and have just become a new mom again, I suppose I've earned my turn to give some advice. Take what speaks to you, and leave the rest, but most importantly, enjoy the journey!
Take the first 2 weeks and lay in bed with baby. Have other people in place to do everything else that needs done. Freeze some meals ahead of time so you don't have to worry about food (and have full instructions on each meal so you don't have to look that up and anyone will be able to just follow the instructions.)
Motherhood
Pregnancy & Birth
August 10, 2012
It was just about five months ago now that my husband and I stood peering at two very positive lines on a pregnancy test. Our thirteen month old daughter; oblivious to our fast changing life, was sleeping soundly down the hall. Unreal is the only word that could describe that moment; coming to grips with the fact that we would have two children, under the age of two in the very near future. Of course, once the shock wore off, we were thrilled beyond words. A brand new adventure was about to wrap us up into an exciting, fresh chapter in our lives.
Fast forward a few months into my pregnancy. I woke up with a sense of excitement; I was to see our sweet baby on a ultrasound screen this day at my OB/GYN appointment. My daughter woke up, and I hurried around our home, getting little one and myself ready to walk out the door. Already, I was a little flustered; feeling a likeness to a pack mule as I tried climbing the stairs with a twenty four pound toddler on my hip, and a diaper
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
August 01, 2012
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month, I wanted to compile my tips for a successful breastfeeding relationship. As a postpartum doula and lactation consultant, many expectant moms have told me how nervous they are about breastfeeding. It's no wonder as to why some women have fear since horror stories abound about sore nipples, low milk supply and biting babies. I would like to offer you some peace of mind to help you prepare for your breastfeeding journey.
Tip 1: Stick with it! Don't give up.
Breastfeeding is natural, just like walking is natural. But it takes time to figure it out! Can you imagine how many babies would give up walking if they gave up after
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
July 02, 2012
During the first trimester, staying fit and eating healthy can be a real challenge due to all of the hormonal changes occurring in your body. Two of the biggest challenges can be morning sickness and food aversions. Both of which make you want to just lay on the couch and watch trashy TV rather than focus on getting outside for a walk or a run or eat those nice big salads that you once did. However, did you know that actually making an effort to workout can combat fatigue and morning sickness? I wish someone had told me this during my first trimester! I went from training for a half marathon to the couch full time before finally convincing myself that I needed to make an effort to be somewhat active again. Not only is it good for me but it’s good for this growing baby inside of me. It took me until the later stages of my first trimester (around week 10) to really start to get back to being active. But when I did, I noticed how much better I felt. My morning (all day) sickness was nowhere
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
February 01, 2012
When I counsel adults with heart disease, many have a hard time making changes to their diet. I have often thought that it would be easier for them if they had grown up with heart healthy habits instead of having to learn them later in life. We often don’t think about children and heart health, but as parents we can start building heart healthy habits in our children that will benefit them for a life time.
Here are 7 heart healthy habits:
Don’t restrict calories but offer “real” food.
Eat heart healthy fats and oils.
Load up on fruits and vegetables.
Consume plenty of low-fat dairy products.
Use nuts, seeds, and legumes more often.
Incorporate more whole grains.
Be physically active.
Don't restrict calories but offer "real" food. Most of the time it is not a good idea to restrict children’s calories. They should be able to eat meals
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
September 01, 2011
When my husband was out of town, I thought I would give the kids a treat and take them out to eat. When I asked them if they wanted to go, they all shouted, “Yay! A picnic!” They grabbed a table cloth and ran outside to wait for me to bring the food. I quickly put together a picnic with food that we had on hand, and we sat outside eating dinner and playing for the rest of the evening.
Since then I have thought about how much healthier we would all be if we went “out” to eat more often--if more families thought about going out to eat as a picnic in the park instead of eating unhealthy food at a chain restaurant. As parents, we can influence the attitudes our kids have about healthy eating and physical activity, and create a healthy nutrition environment at home.
Eat meals together as a family
Try to eat one home-cooked meal together with your family each day. Studies show that family meals are associated with improved intakes of fruits, vegetables, grains, calcium-rich foods,
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
September 01, 2011
Most women don’t even start thinking about making healthier choices for the benefit of their baby until they are actually pregnant. But, many studies have shown that preconception nutrition can improve fertility and pregnancy outcomes. In fact, combining certain dietary patterns is referred to as the “fertility diet” and may favorably influence fertility in otherwise healthy women. So, when you start thinking about cute little toes and baby carriages, start making some of these pre-pregnancy nutrition and lifestyle changes too.
Add vitamins to your routine. It is well known that taking folic acid before pregnancy can prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, so be sure you are taking a supplement either as part of a multivitamin or by itself. Another important nutrient to add is iron. Many women tend to be low in iron, and iron needs will increase during pregnancy. Starting pregnancy with good iron levels by taking supplements or eating iron-rich
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
August 01, 2011
When should you start feeding your baby solid foods and what should you feed her?
Start feeding solids to babies between 4 and 6 months.
Introduce new foods 3-4 days apart.
Try foods several times.
Try several textures and flavors.
Avoid foods that can cause choking.
“The first year is a great time to introduce a variety of foods with different textures and tastes before the “picky eating” ages of 2 and 3 begin.” Christanne Harrison
Introducing Solids: Time for Tofu (and Other New Foods)
When my son started kindergarten, I asked him what he wanted in his lunch on his first day of school. He quickly responded, “Tofu squares!” He came home and proudly told me his teacher said that she had never seen a kindergartner with tofu in his lunch before. I started feeding my son tofu before he was a year old, and he has loved it ever since. Obviously, not all children are going to like tofu
Motherhood
Breastfeeding & Nutrition
July 01, 2011
La Leche League’s “Big Latch On” event, August 6th, 2011
“Women were ready to take charge of their own bodies. There was a need.” This was her answer when one founder was asked why they started La Leche League International (LLLI).
In 1956, seven women founded La Leche League International united by a common bond: their mutual appreciation for natural birth and their healthy, happy breastfeeding babies. They nurtured, nursed and practiced what they preached, with a combined total of 63 children, 161 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren, as of 2008. They were encouraged by enthusiastic husbands, and inspired by their enjoyment to share what they knew with other mothers, in their Elmhurst, Illinois vicinity, who were often asking for guidance on how best to breastfeed their babies.
In the words of each of the seven founders, here are some of their thoughts and history from their journey together. Their detailed chronological history