Blog
March 21, 2016
Babywearing is helpful for when you want to hold a baby and have your hands free, and can be more convenient than a stroller when out and about. But did you know that babywearing can also help with postpartum mental illness, such as anxiety and depression?
Babywearing passively comforts a child
Symptoms of clinical postpartum anxiety, depression, or other postpartum illness, can make it hard for a parent to feel “present” let alone focus on the baby. I often suggest babywearing to my clients, and coach them to start a habit of kissing the baby’s head, and letting the baby cuddle. Even a parent that feels low energy or less than 100% can passively be a loving safe-haven to their child by wearing him or her.
Wear your child to soothe your anxiety
For parents with anxiety, OCD, or fears of something being wrong with the baby, babywearing
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
March 16, 2016
One of the many benefits to babywearing is being able to multi-task and get things done while still keeping baby close. Laundry, grocery shopping, running after an older child, prepping a meal or a snack, all become so much easier when we have our hands-free with baby safely snug in a baby carrier. However, some special consideration is needed when in the kitchen. Keep these safety tips in mind anytime you are prepping a meal while babywearing to keep baby safe and happy.
tips for cooking and babywearing
If you are going to be doing any sort of cutting you will want the baby in the side/hip or back carry positions.
The front carry position works best when doing simple, everyday things in the kitchen like making sandwiches for lunch, mixing a batch of cookies, making smoothies, etc.
Use caution when cooking on the stove
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
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
March 01, 2016
What exactly is “unwearing”? It’s the act of removing both the carrier and (hopefully) a sleeping baby. Here are some tips to make your “unwearing” successful.
Be prepared! If your baby takes a bottle, requires a favorite blankie, white noise, or darkness, set those up before you attempt to unwear. If you’re a breastfeeder, be prepared to side lie and escape after a quick feed.
Have a flat surface to transfer baby to. Make sure it’s safe, where baby cannot roll.
The closer you can get to your surface, the higher chance of success. Don’t be afraid to lean completely over the surface before unbuckling, the lack of support or instability can startle the baby. Sit on the edge of the bed if unwearing from a back carry, and lean back toward the surface.
Take your time. If you hurry, you’re more likely to wake baby. That being said, once baby is completely off, RUN ;)
Bring on the shushing. I shush and sway a bit as I unwear, until I’m
February 29, 2016
How many times as a parent have you written a to-do list that seemed totally reasonable, only to be crushed at the end of the day when only one single item got crossed off?
How many times have you beaten yourself up for not being able to return a phone call or text, let alone get dressed and prep dinner?
How many times have you had to choose between pumping milk at work and eating lunch without flanges attached to your boobs?
I’ve lost count on any sort of running total on this Mama Math, and I can no longer consider myself a “new mom,” as my kids are 5 and 7. But I still fall into the trap of adding too many things to my To-Do lists, whether work-, home-, or kid-related, and when I do, I become disappointed in myself.
As a Licensed Acupuncturist who specializes in the childbearing cycle, I work with parents every day, and I have come to realize that most of us have expectations of ourselves that are higher than anything we would expect of a friend or family member.
Before
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
February 11, 2016
One of the most frequently asked questions from my clients and members of our instagram support forum is “How can I increase my milk supply?” It’s a valid concern considering one of the top three reasons mothers wean is they are concerned about milk supply (1). Today I’m here to give you three easy ways to ensure your milk production will meet baby’s needs!
Ensure efficient breast emptying
Breastmilk is made on a supply-demand chain. Think about a store inventory. If an item is popular, and being regularly removed from the shelves each day, the item will continually be in stock. If the item sits and sits and no one buys it, pretty soon it will be discontinued. The same is true for milk production! The more is removed, the more is made. Sometimes women put their baby to breast frequently, but they are not attached well enough or alert enough to remove milk efficiently. Some great things to look for during latch include
February 10, 2016
New Years brings new goals, mental, emotional, and physical. As parents with little ones in tow, it can be hard to keep up with new routines. Here is an exercise routine that can be done while babywearing. Involving your child in your fitness regimen can be a great way to score some quality time!
While doing these exercises, you can engage baby as well. Sing some songs, recite a nursery rhyme, count, or even chat with them while you go up and down. This is a great alternative to plain old counting.
While performing exercises make sure you have a surface or chair to hold onto for balance and safety. Remember, you are still babywearing and need to be conscious of their safety.
Below are the exercises. There are 10 total exercises (when you count one for each leg).
Squats
Stand up straight with feet shoulder width apart. Slowly move up and down as if you are about to sit into a chair.
Stationary Lunges
Stand with feet shoulder width apart and step backwards