When my second child was born, my husband had to go back to work immediately. Despite the fact that prepackaged snacks are not the healthiest (since they are often higher in sugar, sodium, fat, and additives, such as MSG, artificial colors, sulfites), I still bought prepackaged breastfeeding snacks to eat while nursing my son. I bought prepackaged food so that I could quickly grab something to eat when my husband and mother-in-law were not around. Principles I used in choosing my prepackaged breastfeeding snacks were: Pick nutrient-dense foods. Choose foods that required little to no preparation. Two of the snacks I bought required … [Read more...]
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Disclaimer: The information in this post is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. None of the opinions are meant to diagnose or treat any disease or illness. You should always consult your healthcare provider.
Apple Walnut Lactation Muffins
There are certain times during the month where my breast milk supply decreases, and my son seems hungrier. During those times, I have to nurse him more often. One thing I do to keep my supply at a "normal" level is make lactation muffins, which are a type of galactagogue. What is a galactagogue? It is a substance that increases lactation. Some other foods that are considered galactagogues include: Oatmeal Dark, leafy greens Seeds, chia, and flax Almonds If you are trying to boost your supply, you can make lactation muffins yourself. The recipe below has no added sugar, and the muffins are gluten free. Try making these … [Read more...]
Free Infant Formula Samples
Three days after my daughter was born, I was tired and exhausted. I had been up all night with her the previous two nights and wanted to sleep. I thought, "I wish we had bottles and nipples so my husband could give my daughter formula and I could sleep." Thankfully, I did not ask. Fast-forward to my second pregnancy. When the free infant formula samples arrived, I told my husband, "Hide them. I do not want to know where they are, and you will not get the formula unless absolutely necessary." Even though my breastfeeding relationship with my daughter was not hindered because of the free infant formula samples, I wanted them out of sight and … [Read more...]
Colds: Sudafed, Mucinex and Breastfeeding
Winter. It's that time of year when sickness seems never-ending. The common cold often makes its way around from family to family. Many say that there should be a law against mothers getting sick, but unfortunately, sickness happens. Usually harmless, the common cold is more of a nuisance than anything. Breastfeeding mothers may wonder, “Can I take medications to help ease the severity of my symptoms? Are Mucinex and breastfeeding compatible? What about Sudafed?” Colds: Sudafed, Mucinex and Breastfeeding Taking over-the-counter medications will not cure your cold, but it will help relieve the symptoms. Two common medications … [Read more...]
Workplace Breastfeeding Laws
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Six weeks after my daughter was born, I went back to work at the hospital PRN (two shifts every 28 days). Doing this was one of the hardest things I have done. My daughter was still a newborn, but because of finances it had to be done. When I went back to work, I was thankful for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because it improved breastfeeding laws for me and women all across the country. One of the most important sections of the law required the hospital I worked at to provide a break time and a room for employees to pump their breast milk. Workplace Breastfeeding Laws The ACA was passed by Congress on March 21, 2010. On March … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding Snacks: Oatmeal Recipe Roundup
The first four weeks after my children were born, one of my favorite breastfeeding snacks was oatmeal. In many women, oatmeal is a galactagogue - a substance promoting the increased production of breast milk. Even though there is no definitive scientific evidence that oatmeal increases breast milk production, many women have personal stories about how their milk supply increased due to eating oatmeal. This could be due to the fact that oatmeal is a source of iron. If your iron levels are low, your milk supply can decrease. The other benefits of oatmeal are: it is high in fiber, helps lower cholesterol, and helps maintain a healthy … [Read more...]
Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump Review
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With my first child, I had a manual breast pump, but 12 months after buying it, the pump broke. We did not have the funds to buy a replacement breast pump with our second child. Thankfully, I was given an Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump as a gift. Top 4 reasons I recommend the Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump: It is a closed system. A closed system is designed so that breast milk never touches the pump tubing or motor. In open systems, there is risk of mold contamination, since breast milk can get inside the tubing. Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump has an airlock barrier, using a silicone diaphraghm, which protects breast milk from mold and … [Read more...]
How to Make Your Own Breast Pads
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For most breastfeeding women, nursing pads are a necessity. Leaking happens. We've all wanted to keep from being embarrassed by having a wet shirt, so breast pads can become one of our new best friends. The cost of disposable breast pads adds up, plus they can be uncomfortable. Buying reusable breast pads requires an upfront cost, and for some women, the pads can be too small. What's the solution to spending a lot of money on breast pads? Make your own breast pads. Making your own breast pads is simple, cheap, and eco-friendly. Supplies needed to make your own breast pads Fabric (you can use a lot of different kinds; I've put some … [Read more...]
3 Advantages of Expressing Breast Milk by Hand
There are many ways to express breast milk. It can either be expressed by hand, with a manual pump, a battery operated or electric breast pump, or a hospital grade pump (which are electric). Even with all the different types of breast pumps out there, knowing how to express breast milk by hand is a useful skill. It might take a few tries to get used to expressing breast milk by hand, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't work the first time. The trick is to put pressure not on the nipple but on the milk ducts. Once you are familiar with hand expressing, it's sometimes easier and more convenient than using a breast pump. What are the … [Read more...]
Breastfeeding and Herpes – Are They Compatible?
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Congrats on your pregnancy! If you have herpes, you are probably worried about the possibility of your baby getting it during labor. You may also be wondering, “Can I breastfeed without making my child sick, or do I have to give my baby formula?” If you do not have herpes, this topic is still important because an estimated 20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. So, breastfeeding and herpes...are the two compatible? What is herpes? Herpes is an infection caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Oral herpes causes cold sores around the mouth, and genital herpes affects the genital and anal area. Genital herpes is a sexually … [Read more...]
