You know that saying, “Bras must have been invented by a man.” It’s something many of us have thought when putting on these uncomfortable contraptions. They can seem like they have no function other than to hoist our bosom to our chin. But bras serve a purpose for many women, and this purpose gets even more important if you are a breastfeeding or pumping mom who needs her hands-free. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would ask a bunch of women what would make them more comfortable and functional? [Read more…]
Is your dentist a breastfeeding bully?
By Kristin Salamon D.D.S.
There is a lot of misinformation circling about breastfeeding and cavities. Unfortunately, there are many dentists out there that believe that if a child has a cavity, and that child is breastfed (especially at night), the main cause is breastfeeding. Here’s the information you need to challenge what your dentist may tell you, if you come across it in your breastfeeding journey. [Read more…]
Motherhood Not Martyr-hood
Exley has really fallen in love with bubble baths. So much so that he demands them a couple of times a day. It’s winter here in Chicago with lots of inside time.
He takes them so often that I have gotten sick of picking up the toys. So I just kick them to the side when I take a shower. [Read more…]
Review of Motherlove’s Sitz Spray and Rhoid Balm
After 2 vaginal births I am no stranger to the plight of the vagina, perineum and anus after many hours of pushing something the size of a bowling ball through a hole the size of a mini donut. My first son was finally delivered after 30 hours of labor when the head doctor was called in. All I heard was, “blah, blah, blah, episiotomy.” I sat on one butt cheek for weeks, bled for two months and couldn’t comfortably walk to Starbucks for longer than that. If anyone deserves Starbucks it’s a mother who just had a baby. I did sitz baths with betadine as directed. I guess the wound was being cleaned, but seriously, there was no pain relief and I always felt the urge to wash myself again to clean the chemical off my skin. And there were plenty of days when I didn’t cleanse as often as recommended because I was taking care of a newborn. [Read more…]
Review of the Sleepod by Askr & Embla
Cosleeping has many benefits such as fostering attachment between you and your new baby, making night feeding easier and being able to monitor your baby more closely. It’s been found that the co-sleeping mom and baby get more sleep. Frequent night feedings increase milk supply in the breastfeeding mother. It has also been found that co-sleeping reduces the risks of SIDS by up to 50%. All that paired with waking up to your smiling baby makes for a great case to co-sleep!
Jenn’s Tandem Nursing Journey
“There I was pregnant, nursing my daughter, super anxious, excited, scared about nursing a new baby along with her. Will she be jealous? Will she wean? Will she still love me? [Read more…]
Hannah’s Triumph
“I just wanted to share my breastfeeding journey with my second son and I hope this to be an encouragement to other NICU moms. I went into premature labor when I was 35 weeks pregnant. I had to have an emergency c section and when he was delivered we waited as the doctor kept trying to get him to cry. Finally we heard a few cries but the pediatrician had to rush him to the nursery. As she walked by I got a short glance. Hours after he was delivered the transport team brought him to see me in an incubator (due to being intubated) and I got to touch his little fingers but that would be all I saw of him for two more days as we were at two different facilities. I started pumping in hopes my milk would come in but I was getting very little out. Once I finally got released and could visit with him again I would pump every three hours in the pump rooms in the nicu and at the hotel we were staying at by the hospital. Slowly but surely my milk started coming in. Once he was finally able to try and drink milk his bottles were supplies fully by me. As his intake increases the amount I was able to pump increased. It was amazing. We were discharged after a week. About fifteen days postpartum I developed a serious infection at my incision and had to go on an antibiotic that forced me to pump and dump. I pumped every three hours on the dot after I fed him a bottle. It broke my heart after he was finally able to nurse straight from me instead of bottles and now it was me who was our road block. I ended up pumping and dumping for a little over a month because I kept getting infections at my incision. When it came time for me to be able to nurse again I was concerned he wouldn’t take because he had been on bottles; however, he latched perfectly and to this day refused a bottle anytime he is offered. I know it is hard to make yourself wake up and pump or pump and dump every three hours for weeks on end, but please please trust me it is so worth it! I would love to be an encouragement to anyone who is going through this!
First picture was the day he was born and the second picture is now!”
-Hannah
Review of the ARDO Amaryll Manual Breast Pump
My first son was a few months old when I decided, in my new mom delirium, to have dinner with some friends. I knew I might get engorged, but figured I would be back soon enough. I didn’t feel like bringing my electric pump. It seemed like a huge hassle for only being gone a few hours. I didn’t even bring breast pads. (I know, I know, you’re all rolling your eyes right now). I deserved what I got, which was 2 golf ball-sized leak marks on my shirt that were illuminated dark blue on my light blue shirt. I ran to the bathroom to shove toilet paper into my bra, but the damage was done. [Read more…]
Michael and Manuel’s Adoption Journey
Michael and Manuel met in 2002 and were married in 2008. Michael is a Psychologist and Manuel works in Human Resources for a renewable energy wind turbine company. They enjoy gardening, yoga, hiking, preforming arts and travel, but if you have followed any of their story over the years you know that what they enjoy most is being parents to their son, Mateo.
Mateo was adopted from Chicago 3.5 years ago in an open adoption. It was a quick process, only 4 months! “He is a spectacular little man now!” says Michael.
Full-Term Breastfeeding
By Sara Sites
I want to share a picture with you all. This was taken on August 19th 2015- the day Jack turned 5…the 5th anniversary of our breastfeeding journey. [Read more…]
