New Report Says Breastfeeding is “Silver Bullet”

Breastfeeding Silver Bullet

It happened for the first time two weeks ago. My 10-month-old baby got sick. Up until then, she has had no sniffles. No runny noses. No fevers. No ear infections or aches. No doctor's visits. Not-a-one. At ten months, she's eating a wonderfully colorful diet of fruits, vegetables, organic meats, and dairy products; she also still nurses. Though I am grateful every day for the many merits of breastfeeding, never have I been more grateful than when she recently caught that small stomach … [Read more...]

Glamourmom Mbody Starter Nursing Bra [giveaway]

glamourmom-mbody-starter-nursing-bra

Third time around and I'm still in awe of the miracle of breastfeeding. I'm wonderstruck that my body somehow creates this perfect food for my baby - in the perfect quantity. The milk heals and protects - guarding her from illness, giving her all of the nutrients her mind & body needs. That said, breastfeeding isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it's downright hard. There's a definite "adjustment period." And certain products do make it easier... For example, I really appreciated … [Read more...]

“Does breastfeeding hurt?” [the painful truth]

newborn-sleeping

Most nursing sessions begin like this: I turn on music, clench my lips, gather my courage from way down deep, and muffle a scream as she latches. I breathe. My shoulders tense. Sometimes I cry, tears splashing down my chest. I ALWAYS pray - for mercy, for strength. Most of all - for healing of my sore nipples. After the worst passes, I relax and stare into her blue eyes, seeing my reflection there. "Don't worry," I whisper, "I'll always feed you. We can do this together."   When she … [Read more...]

She weaned last night.

pose-by-a-tree

The last few weeks, she's only been nursing right before bed. "Nurse me, peas," she'd say at bedtime in the sweetest of voices. But last night, she fell asleep while I was reading "The Indian in the Cupboard" out loud (Amazing book, by the way...we're all enchanted by it). Tonight was the exact same scenario. I looked at her as I left the room - long lashes, rounded cheeks, pursed lips. Still my baby, yet growing up into herself too. Like bittersweet chocolate. "Weaning has been … [Read more...]

The (secret) benefits of extended breastfeeding

sweetest-smile-19-months

In the mornings, when the sun begins shooting gentle rays through the cracks in the blinds, my 19-month-old begins to squirm beside me. I look at the clock and the hands tell me it's still a little early yet. So I lay a gentle hand on her back, "Shhh...Mama's got you." Her body curls into mine and she latches on comfortably, relaxing into me. We wake up at 8:00 on most mornings; 7:30 occasionally. My older daughter was the same at this age. Breastfeeding is my secret sleeping-in … [Read more...]

Summer Fashion: Cake Lingerie

cake lingerie logo

There used to be a day when nursing bras were boring. Beige and white were the only color options available. If you were lucky, you *might* find a black bra at a specialty boutique. The sizes were wonky, the fits were all wrong, and they certainly weren't alluring. Fortunately, we live in a brave new world. Designers have stepped up and created beautiful lingerie options for new mums. Case-in-point: Cake Lingerie. The Sydney-based company was established in 2008 by a new mother who found … [Read more...]

Something Colorful: HOTmilk Lingerie

she craved a little decadence

A Note to Nursing Bra Designers. I think I speak for all breastfeeding moms when I say: We want color. We want "punch." We want pretty. We want pizazz. Oh - and we definitely want comfort too. We don't want nude and black and blah. At least one brand out there has heard our voice... HOTmilk Lingerie is a New Zealand company that specializes in camisoles, nightwear, and lingerie for pregnant and nursing moms. The company offers colorful, sultry pieces and sets that have … [Read more...]

Starting Solids : how we do it

eggs-and-potatoes

This is what we had for dinner last night - eggs, potatoes, and freshly-peeled oranges (oh, and I drank a cup of grapefruit juice...I love the stuff) : This is what our 9-month-old had for dinner last night (it's the exact same thing that we ate...in teeny tiny bites that she fed to herself): I view the current baby-feeding advice with a hefty dose of skepticism and a little bit of amusement. Why-oh-why, I wonder, do babies need to have rice cereal and then oat cereal and then … [Read more...]