Breastfeeding burns about 500 calories per day (Source). Any nursing mom will tell you that snacks are an essential part of her diet. To help you meet your milk production and weight loss goals, I’ve come up with the best breastfeeding snacks. Many mothers report that they suddenly feel ravenously hungry and very thirsty as…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Guest Post by Allison Shorter Essential oils are wonderful for so many things including cleaning your home, cosmetic use, and treating injuries. However, there is some debate among professionals about essential oil use for nursing moms and women who are pregnant. Let’s look at essential oil use if you are one of these women. When…
Are you a breastfeeding mom who wants to look fashionable? Do you prefer to cover up when you are breastfeeding in public or when you are nursing in front of certain people? Are you looking for an alternative to traditional breastfeeding covers? A DIY nursing scarf cover is the perfect solution! When I wrote about…
Let’s be real, breastfeeding can be hard. I have been a lactation consultant for over 25 years. I breastfed my own babies for a total of four years. These are the best of the best breastfeeding hacks to make it easier. I am going to cover everything from how to stay well hydrated, to being an…
There’s nothing like unsolicited advice. Moms get a lot of it. It usually starts the minute people find out that you are pregnant and continues for the rest of your parenting days. My three kids are all adults and I still get unasked for advice on how to parent. While I believe most people mean…
New moms often ask me when it is okay to start bottle feeding a breastfed baby. Some moms will wonder if bottles are a good idea at all if you are breastfeeding. Nobody wants to have to deal with the dreaded bottle refusal. If breastfeeding is going well you don’t want to mess it up…
When an expectant mom is preparing for the arrival of her baby she wants to know what she will need for breastfeeding. The lists can be overwhelming. I want to share what you really need. This list is what other moms have said were the best breastfeeding accessories to have. Deciding which breastfeeding accessories you…
Breastfeeding and returning to work is a new chapter in your breastfeeding journey. It will be challenging for sure. It is worth it though because there are so many benefits. Some you may not have even thought of. Continuing to breastfeed when you go back to work may seem like it is going to be…
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is every new parent’s worst fear. Research has shown a dramatic impact from breastfeeding on the rate of SIDS. Keep reading to find out about breastfeeding and SIDS statistics, as well as other steps you can take to reduce your baby’s risk. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death…
Breastfeeding doesn’t require a lot of accessories. You need breasts. For most moms, that’s all they really need. But you might be thinking about what to put on your baby registry. Or you might be searching for the perfect gifts for breastfeeding moms. It is true that some things may not be necessary but are…
Having a baby is a money pit, am I right? I know you know what I mean, since you are checking out what is the best free baby stuff for breastfeeding moms. I would go into a store to buy baby stuff and feel like I should hand over my wallet and say, “Let me…
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against bed sharing. I am writing this post about how you can practice bed-sharing safely because I have spoken to enough parents to know that it happens. Sometimes it is planned and sometimes it happens accidentally. I think it is important to know how to minimize the risks. I…
Breastfeeding takes a lot of time. I am not going to do the math. Trust me, it takes a lot of time. A breastfeeding basket can help you save time and make life easier. I am all about making life easier for the breastfeeding mama. As you sit there, looking down lovingly at your sweet baby,…
Using a Supplemental Nursing System, or an SNS can be helpful with many breastfeeding problems. This video covers How to use a Starter SNS How to use a Regular SNS What reasons there are to use an SNS Andrea Tran RN, BSN, MA, IBCLCAndrea has been working with new families as an RN for over…
Moms need other moms. That is especially true when you are a nursing mom. But it can be hard to find your breastfeeding support. You weren’t meant to go through this powerful experience on your own. When you are breastfeeding, it is very important to find other breastfeeding moms, or what I like to call,…
CASUAL MILK SHARING The phone call goes something like this: “I have a low supply. My friend has extra milk in her freezer and can pump extra all the time. She said I could have what she doesn’t need. Is it okay to do this?” I don’t recommend it. Certain diseases can be transmitted through…
Advice when about how to take care of a baby will rarely if ever, be consistent. “Everyone tells me something different about breastfeeding.” I hear this all the time, and it is usually said in frustration. Moms expect there to be a clear and consistent message about breastfeeding. They want to know what will happen and…
Ever since the promotion of breastfeeding as the best way to feed your baby, as compared to formula, there has been a counter-movement. We don’t want to push it too much because if moms don’t meet their breastfeeding goals we don’t want them to feel guilty, they said. I’ll skip over how insulting it is it to presume…
Should you put your breastfeeding baby on a schedule? It’s one of the great debates of being a mom. When a mom asks about a breastfeeding schedule, she is probably thinking in terms of how often and when a baby eats. New and expectant moms want to know which is better, on demand feeding vs….