Breastfeeding

The clock is officially ticking! I am well into my third trimester and my baby to do list is almost complete. I can hardly believe that my due date is around the corner, but I have learned well from previous pregnancies that sitting around wishing my baby would arrive results in … nothing! So, this …

Breastfeeding hunger is like a hairy, talkative monster with fangs and sour bad breath. It’s worse than pregnancy hunger. It’s the ongoing cacophony inspiring you to eat, eat, and eat throughout your day. And you should eat, often, as most experts agree that breastfeeding moms can burn up to 600 calories a day and, thus, …

Some lactating mothers have all the luck! They’re able to provide a consistent flow, or even overflow, of breast milk for their child and then some! Others, like me, struggle to maintain their supply and watch it slowly diminish. But for the mothers who have freezers packed full of frozen breast milk bags, what can …

* Note: Always consult a doctor if you are concerned about mastitis * Breastfeeding moms, have you heard of or experienced the dreaded M word? That’s mastitis, if you’re wondering. I hate it with a vengeance and you probably do too. It always seems to strike at the most inconvenient times – on vacation, with …

When my second baby came into the world and latched permanently to my breast, I figured my oldest would have questions. But her being only 2 years and a month, she didn’t have questions—more like jealousy. It’s not like she could remember her own breastfeeding days so it wasn’t that. She just realized how many …

It’s time to talk about how to dry up breast milk supply. My first child decided at 8 months to self-wean. Cold turkey, she nursed for breakfast and then for her next session, she just wouldn’t have it. Every time after that, when I would try to latch her, she would freak out, push me, …

Parents Magazine recently published a snippet from the healthcare journal Pediatrics, and parents are going crazy. They summarized this article which states, Promoting breastfeeding as “natural” may be ethically problematic, and, even more troublingly, it may bolster this belief that “natural” approaches are presumptively healthier. This may ultimately challenge public health’s aims in other contexts, …

From trivial little things that I could probably do on my own if I wasn’t lazy, to the big stuff that keeps me going even though breastfeeding is hard, I’m one lucky lady to have such a supportive man. Many dads look at breastfeeding and worry they will have no place in that aspect of …

Feeding your newborn is something you will do within the first hour (or even less) after giving birth, so breastfeeding is a topic most moms-to-be will research before the big day. But no surprise, breastfeeding is a big and often difficult task to master. So in preparation, here are 10 breastfeeding tips I’ve found useful …

Tomorrow is the start of Ramadan, a very special month where Muslims fast from both food and drink from sunrise to sunset, in order to focus on their spiritual journey. Most nursing mothers do not fast during this time, but for those who do feel comfortable breastfeeding and fasting, here are five food items that …

Refusing a bottle… it’s a common problem to have. Most of my friends’ babies who are breastfed have at one point or another refused to take a bottle. Both of my kids have gone through this phase – in fact, my daughter is still not taking a bottle consistently. Here are a few strategies that have been …

Have you ever wondered what do to with a used breast pump? Can you donate a breast pump? Are your breastfeeding days over? Have you stopped pumping? If so, that probably means you have an old one tucked in the back of a closet somewhere in your home. It’s taking up space, but for so …