Once you have more than one child, you will find yourself in situations where you will have to nurse your baby in front of his/her sibling(s). When that time comes, your child(ren) may have questions concerning breastfeeding and if you've never dealt with these before, they may make you feel a little uncomfortable or nervous. I've now had four children and answered innocent questions for each of my three oldest when a new baby joined our family. From having my oldest daughter at the age of two declare to a room full of people, "Brover eats boobers!" to dealing with my current three year old exclaiming that our newest son got his nursies by … [Read more...]

After what can often be an uncomfortable third trimester (or maybe even entire pregnancy) and then the hard work of labor and delivery, there's certainly not a single mom on the planet who wants another round of intense pain or discomfort right after her baby is born. However, after a second or subsequent labor and delivery, many moms deal with strong afterpains. These afterpains are most coming during breastfeeding, too. What is the best way to cope with breastfeeding and afterpains? What Are Afterpains? Before you can learn to cope with after pains, it is helpful to know a little bit about them. Afterpains are caused by the uterus … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding advice. It comes in all shapes and sizes. Some is very helpful. Some constructive. Some advice-givers might mean well but may not be helpful. Some advice is downright harmful. When I first started breastfeeding over six years ago, I received all sorts of advice. Most was helpful or at least well meaning. I was a new mom and really had no idea if the advice was good or bad until I had a few miles under my belt. Not-So-Great Breastfeeding Advice One of the worst sentiments I was told repeatedly is that breastfeeding is a magical experience. That it is just amazing to stare into the eyes of your little babe while he gets all … [Read more...]

Sleep. Babies and sleep. Nursing and sleep. We spend so many minutes of so many hours of so many days worrying about sleep. How much we're getting and how much we're not getting. We listen to advice and we read books and we worry, worry, worry. Now, three babies in, I don't worry anymore - and I let my baby nurse to sleep. Is It Ok to Let Baby Nurse to Sleep? I know this is a very polarizing subject. Many moms choose not to allow this habit to begin. Many use it as a powerful tool. Many have babies that can't or won't fall asleep at the breast! But for me, letting my baby nurse to sleep has been a gift. When Ronan, my oldest, was a … [Read more...]

Let's face it. Sometimes we can get a little caught up with breastfeeding and forget about our hubby from time to time, right? These poor guys end up being our "gophers" - going for this snack, that diaper change, this burp cloth, etc. And when those little ones eat 'round the clock, it can be challenging to actually make time for a little romance (let alone a simple conversation). Coming up with ways to romance your husband might not be top of your priority list - like fixing a poor latch or just getting dinner on the table is. But with just a little extra effort, we can bless these men who are so supportive, helpful, and encouraging. … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding may be natural, but it sure ain't easy sometimes. I wish someone had taken the time to give me breastfeeding advice when I was a first-time, struggling mom.  And I sure was struggling. In more ways than one. Having a child changes absolutely everything about life. It is a world-rocking experience. The adjustments can be overwhelming, especially when things don't quite go according to plan. As moms, we can be very critical of ourselves. We compare our ability to mother to others. The truth is, no two breastfeeding journeys will be alike. At times we will flourish. At times we will struggle. It's our struggles that make … [Read more...]

In a perfect world, all medical care providers would be most concerned with what is best for mother and baby in their particular circumstances. They would offer objective advice and evidence-based research. Compassion and kindness would be icing on the cake, and par for the course. Worrying that your care provider does not support breastfeeding would not even be a concern! Unfortunately, we all have our biases. Doctors (and nurses, and midwives, etc), like all the rest of us, sometimes let their personal experiences and opinions inform their priorities when deciding how to counsel a patient. Your care provider may be a wonderful source of … [Read more...]

If you're a breastfeeding mom, chances are pretty great that you have co-slept with your baby at least once. Maybe you didn't plan on co-sleeping. I know I didn't with my first son. But, I found that it was sooo much easier to to get a restful nights sleep with my son peacefully sleeping next to me. He woke up to eat, I didn't have to get up. He simply latched on and we both drifted back to sleep. But is this safe? Recent Meta-Analysis Shows Co-Sleeping is Dangerous I was recently accused of disseminating "dangerous" and "unsafe" information in a post titled 9 Benefits of the Breastfeeding and Co-Sleeping Relationship. The commenter … [Read more...]