Do you hate pumping? Pumping is not usually described as one of the more fun things a new mom does. But it shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Whether you only pump occasionally or you are exclusively pumping, these 11 tips for how to make pumping more comfortable will make your pumping sessions more pleasant. There are different…
There will come a day when your breastfed baby will be ready to start eating solid foods. There are different ways to approach this new phase in your baby’s diet. One method is called baby led weaning and has become popular as a method of introducing solid foods. This way of transitioning a child to…
Your breasts are already making the perfect first food when your baby is born. It is the early milk called colostrum. Still, most new moms are anxious to start producing mature milk. They often ask me what helps breast milk come in. You can definitely do things in those early days after birth that can…
I will never forget the first time I saw a mom babywearing and breastfeeding at the same time. It was in a grocery store, and she had a toddler with her. I was so impressed with that mom’s clever multitasking skills. You may have heard about babywearing. It’s an age-old practice. Moms have worn their…
Being a mom is hard work. Managing older siblings while breastfeeding can seem like a daunting task at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Moms are the ultimate multi-taskers. But if you have a toddler or school-aged child and are breastfeeding a newborn, you may need some tips for having harmonious nursing sessions. With…
When your breast milk is different colors, it can be concerning. Moms have often asked me, why is my breast milk different colors? What does it mean if I have green or yellow or blue breast milk? Is it safe for my baby to drink it? Some of the reasons for different color breast milk…
There are many reasons why you might be traveling while you are breastfeeding. You might be breastfeeding and traveling for a fun family vacation. You may be a nursing mom who has to travel for a business trip. You may be making a long distance move. For some parents, the thought of traveling with their…
When I was enormously 9 months pregnant, I wanted two things. I wanted to hold my baby and I wanted to be able to tuck my shirt in again. I hadn’t given dressing for breastfeeding a single thought. After my baby was born, I realized that tucking your shirt in is highly overrated. You may…
The first few days after a baby is born is a whirlwind. Moms are expected to learn all sorts of new things when they are running on little sleep and high levels of adrenaline. Establishing breastfeeding will be a priority. If you give birth in a hospital, you will be asked how often your baby…
I love helping moms breastfeed. While breastfeeding is natural, it doesn’t always come naturally. Sometimes it comes easily. Sometimes it can be challenging. When breastfeeding is hard it can help to keep going when you know why breastfeeding is important. Most moms don’t get enough support when breastfeeding is hard. Moms get advice and information…
One of the most common questions I get from breastfeeding moms is what to do when one breast produces more milk than the other. Moms want to know if this is normal and if they should be concerned about it. Having an uneven breast milk supply is actually more common than both breasts producing the…
Has breastfeeding not been the weight loss magic that you’d heard it could be? Are you getting frustrated with the slow rate at which you are losing your baby weight? If you have looked into the many different ways to lose weight, you have probably heard about this thing called intermittent fasting. It’s getting a…
If you are a breastfeeding mom looking for ways to increase your milk supply, you have probably looked into herbal supplements. There are so many lactation supplements in so many different forms it can be difficult to know which are the best supplements to increase milk supply. I live in a community where herbals and…
Breastfeeding can be easy and wonderful, or it can be the hardest thing you’ve ever done. Being a nursing mother requires commitment, persistence, and a sense of humor. It can be challenging to stick with it when things are hard. I collected these 36 beautiful breastfeeding quotes to encourage you when the going gets tough….
A common question new parents have is how much breast milk does a baby need? As a new breastfeeding mom, you want to make sure your baby gets the right amount of breastmilk. You also want to know how to avoid overfeeding baby if you need to supplement nursing with bottles of pumped breast milk…
If you are a breastfeeding mom who pumps, then you have probably heard the term power pumping. It is a technique that gets a lot of buzz when the conversation turns to the best ways to increase milk supply. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Power pumping is useful for situations…
As a breastfeeding mom, what you eat can affect your growing baby and your own body and energy levels. It is true that you don’t need to eat the perfect diet to produce good quality breast milk. But what you eat as a nursing mom does matter. When it comes to a healthy eating plan…
Nipple shields for breastfeeding are frequently recommended for a variety of nursing problems. I have seen this happen when a well meaning nurse gives a new mom a nipple shield when she is having difficulty latching. I have also seen them recommended in Facebook groups. They often how up on Pinterest “breastfeeding essentials” lists. Pinterest…
The winter holidays are a time of celebrations, traditions, and enjoying time with friends and family. There is so much about this time of year that is fun. Parties, exchanging gifts, foods that make an appearance only at this time of year, and special treats all contribute to the festive feeling. But let’s be honest,…
There are millions of women of childbearing age who have had a breast reduction, breast augmentation, and breast biopsies. All of these procedures can affect breastfeeding. Breast surgery has the potential to affect milk supply and whether your baby can get out the milk that you make. These surgeries can also affect how much impact…
Some new moms lose their baby weight effortlessly. The extra weight seems to melt off. Other women have to work harder to lose those pregnancy pounds. As a breastfeeding mom, you have a secret weight-loss tool. The effect of breastfeeding on weight loss is one of the most popular benefits for mom promoted. Taking a safe approach…
Is your baby sleeping through the night yet? You may be asked this question frequently by well-meaning friends and family. There is a lot of pressure around babies and sleep. And what sleep-deprived mama doesn’t want her baby to start sleeping through the night? Instead of telling you how to get your baby to sleep…
Biting and breastfeeding are two words that no mom wants to say in the same sentence. Biting during breastfeeding can happen not only when a baby is teething. Even a baby just born can bite while nursing. A baby biting your nipple while breastfeeding can be incredibly painful even when they don’t have teeth. I’ll…
For the longest time, there were limited options when it came to personal breast pumps. Then the Spectra pumps arrived on the scene. Game changer! Moms told me that they loved this new breast pump. Whenever I talk to a mom who uses a breast pump, I ask what pump she has. I started hearing…
Using infant formula when breastfeeding can happen by necessity or by choice. For some nursing moms the need to use formula when breastfeeding can feel defeating. You may be worried that supplementing breastfeeding with formula can mean the end of breastfeeding. Formula is not necessarily a bad thing. There are times when a breastfeeding mom…
Breastfeeding is natural, but there are so many things that can throw it off course. As a new nursing mom, you are going to have many questions. You need to have reliable sources to get answers. One of the best ways to get reliable information is to have one or two good books about breastfeeding….
Babies grow faster in their first year of life than at any other time (Source). While they are growing all the time, there are certain times of rapid growth. These are called growth spurts. Every mom wants her baby to grow. However, growth spurts can cause a crisis in your confidence about whether you are…
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that if you have a fancy electric breast pump that you won’t benefit from being able to hand express your milk. Learning how to hand express breast milk is a valuable skill for every mother. It’s true that breast pumps are readily available to most women. However, there are…
Choosing baby furniture can be an overwhelming experience. It is no different when it comes to shopping for a comfy nursing chair. You are going to spend many hours breastfeeding. A comfortable chair to breastfeed in can make the difference between enjoying those precious moments and back or neck pain. Smart moms will want to…
A nursing mom has unique concerns when it comes to postpartum depression. She will want to learn all she can about breastfeeding and depression. Knowledge about treatment options and the safety of medications will enable her to make the safest choices for herself and her baby. Postpartum depression gets a lot of attention these days….
There is nothing worse than going to use your breast pump and missing an essential item. At best, it is inconvenient. At worst, it might mean you can’t pump. It’s enough to make a new mama cry. Whether you are pumping at home or work or while traveling, I will share what the breast pumping…
If you’ve never breastfed before then, you probably have a lot of questions. I have helped moms and babies for over 26 years. I came up with a list of the most frequently asked questions about breastfeeding. The current breastfeeding recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are exclusive breastfeeding for the first six…
A breastfeeding pillow is often near the top of breastfeeding essentials lists. But there are so many to choose from. As you stare at page after page of all the different options, how do you choose the best breastfeeding pillow for you? Every mom is different, so the top-rated nursing pillow may not be the…
Mastitis is painful, and it can be scary. I remember when I got mastitis. It happened in the early weeks of breastfeeding my third baby. My breast didn’t look right, and it definitely didn’t feel right. If you are a mom who either is certain she has mastitis or is wondering if she does, I…
When you have a newborn, you will find yourself the recipient of a boatload of unsolicited advice. This is even more true if you are a breastfeeding mom. If you are struggling with nursing your baby, you will want to get the right breastfeeding help for your particular situation. Getting lactation support from someone who…
Do you know what is really silly? While most pregnant women are advised to take a childbirth preparation course they are rarely told to take a class to prepare for breastfeeding. That’s kind of ridiculous when you think about it. Labor and birth last an average of 12-24 hours. Breastfeeding can last months or years….
Are you a breastfeeding mom who pumps? Are you looking for a way to save time when pumping? Do you want to get more pumping sessions in but don’t have the time? I want to show you an innovative way for breastfeeding mamas who use a breast pump can save time. This ingenious invention is…
A baby carrier was my favorite piece of baby equipment, hands down. I loved it and used it all the time. I consider a baby carrier an essential accessory for every new mom. Whenever I am buying a gift for a baby shower or a new mom, I will choose a baby carrier if it…
I stared at the sign in the window of a salon advertising breast milk facials. My first thought was, why are they wasting precious breast milk on facials??? My second thought was, I wonder what the benefits of a breast milk facial are. Don’t judge. I live in Colorado and it’s really dry. We need…
Pacifiers are practically the universal sign for babies. But moms want to know if breastfed babies and pacifiers are a good thing, or do pacifiers hurt breastfeeding? Which are the best pacifiers for breastfed babies? If you are a new mama, then you want to do the best thing for your baby. If you are…
Most moms don’t expect to have a cesarean. However, many women have a good chance of needing these tips for breastfeeding after c section. The cesarean rate in the US is 32% (Source). That means that almost one in three moms will birth her baby surgically. My first baby was born by c section. I…
YOUR GUIDE TO BREAST ENGORGEMENT REMEDIES When your milk comes in, you should expect some drama. That drama is called breast engorgement. When that happens you are going to want the most effective breast engorgement remedies. New moms often ask me how they will be able to tell if their milk is coming in. I…
Breast refusal is one of the most difficult breastfeeding problems that can occur. It is especially difficult when a newborn refuses to breastfeed. It is not a problem that only happens when getting started with breastfeeding. A baby refusing to nurse can happen at any time during a breastfeeding journey. There are different causes for…
When you are feeling miserable you want to know what will make you feel better. You also need fact-based information about breastfeeding while sick. There is a popular saying that moms don’t get sick days. This is especially true for breastfeeding moms. But moms do get sick. When they do, they want relief. Breastfeeding moms…
Are you are a breastfeeding mom who worries about breastfed baby weight? There is a lot of attention paid to a baby’s weight. When a baby arrives one of the first things people want to know is, “How much did the baby weigh?” After learning the weight they may comment, “that’s big!” or perhaps, “oh,…
I know what you’re thinking. Do we really need another list of breastfeeding must-haves? Don’t we already have pages and pages on Google with everyone who has ever breastfed sharing what breastfeeding supplies she thinks are what you need to buy for breastfeeding? This list is different. I’m not just a mom who breastfed her…
Birth and breastfeeding are sometimes more complex than you think they will be. Your baby is born, and he is placed on your chest. He looks up at you, wriggles his way to your breast, latches on and sucks strongly. You feel a rush of emotion that is filled with love and awe and power….
Babies cry. It’s a fact of life. It’s one of the ways they communicate with us. But having a fussy breastfed baby can make everyone in the household cranky. I remember my husband telling me about a colleague whose new baby was crying all the time. This poor baby could cry for an eight hour…
Breastfeeding is hard! Breastfeeding is easy! You will hear both of these proclamations. Which is it? The truth is it can be hard for some mamas, and it can be easy peasy for others. And even when things are going well, these ten ways to make breastfeeding easier will help you have a more enjoyable breastfeeding…
If you are struggling with sore nipples you want relief ASAP. Nipple pain is one of the most common reasons why women give up breastfeeding. Some women tough it out. But breastfeeding is not a pleasant experience for them. They may even come to dread feedings. Certain situations that cause nipple pain can result in…