finally a hooter hider that's subtle, sophisticated, and doesn't cook the baby in this heat.

as any of my friends can tell you, i am no hooter hider.

that came out wrong.

what i'm trying to say is that when i nurse my son, i do not feel compelled to hide my breast.  i'm not sure if it's my breastfeeding-activist-in-training side coming out or just a lack of embarrassment since my breasts can hardly been seen by the naked eye anyway.

if you ARE a hooter hider, rejoice!   there is finally a hooter hider cover up that does not resemble a tent with a print that lady miss kier would've worn in the "groove is in the heart" video....that all the while traps heat like a locked car in the summer.

baby bond has created a beautiful, minimal cotton jersey hooter hider in chic solids (charcoal, chocolate, black, navy $35) that comfortably crosses your chest like a simple baby sling with a small opening for your breast.   they have 3 different styles, one of which (see photo above) can cover your breasts for top of shirt nursing or can cover your post baby belly for those who prefer to lift their shirt to nurse (see photo below. your own shirt covers your breasts in this set up).

check them all out here.

breastfeeding site on milk donation, induction for adoption, and more...

someone who means a whole heckuvalot to me, has had more challenges as a new mom than anyone i know personally.   i will not go into detail, but you'll have to trust me here.  one of her challenges, which we moms all have to some degree, has to do with breastfeeding.  she recently shared an amazing site with me called milk share.

it is a place that mothers who need, or want to give, donated breast milk can go to connect.  this site does not sell breast milk, but they help connect people in need.  in addition, they have extremely current and unique info (some of which i have not come across before) on the following breastfeeding topics and more:

supplemental nursing devices (photo above)
induction for adoption
nursing after surgery
building supply
freezing guidelines
choosing the right storage container
formula vs. breastmillk

feed baby breast milk bottle at the same time of day it was pumped.

that's right, recent studies show that nucleotides (structural units of dna), and other ingredients in breast milk, perform an important role in regulating a baby's sleep.  they suggest that you if you pump at night, label the stored milk with the time, and feed it to the baby at the same time of night on a later date.  read more here.

an excerpt:

"You wouldn't give anyone a coffee at night, and the same is true of milk – it has day-specific ingredients that stimulate activity in the infant, and other night-time components that help the baby to rest", explains Sánchez.

photo via here.

the best gift for someone that's having a baby soon...

if you know someone that's having a baby and planning on breast feeding, then i have a recommendation for the most important gift you can give them.  so far, nearly every new mother i know would have needed and appreciated this gift.  the gift is a local lactation specialist.

when you're sleep deprived and in new-motherhood haze and need guidance with breast feeding, then having a local lactation specialist's number is priceless.  even if breast feeding goes smoothly in the beginning, a new mom needs to know that baby's latch is correct and she needs info on how to avoid infections, deal with pumping, advice on weaning, and much more.  breast feeding does not always come naturally.  mothers need help.

i know i have posted on this before, but i feel really strongly about the subject.

if you need a local lactation specialist, please contact the la leche league (click on "find local support") and as a local leader for a reference.  they can guide you to specialists that do home visits.  your pediatrician may also be able to refer a lactation specialist.  ideally, a mother would need help in the first week.  usually, a specialist will meet with mom for 2-3 hours.  some charge hourly ($60+/hr) and some do a flat fee that puts them on call until weaning ($200+).  if you're in the los angeles area, i highly recommend jennifer goodson (818 400 9525).  she is a nurse and amazing lactation specialist at dr. jay gordon's office and does home visits.

photo via here.

breastfeeding? low milk supply?

it can be extremely emotional for a new mother to experience low breast milk supply.  plus, unfortunately, once you introduce anything other than breast milk to fill baby (ie formula or water), your body says "oh, baby isn't eating as much, so don't produce as much milk as yesterday."so it's a little bit of a catch 22 that should be handled with delicate intuition day by day.  the other challenge that comes with introducing a bottle, is that the baby gets instant gratification, so he finds it more time consuming to work at getting milk at the breast.

once you get him on, be sure he stays on until he falls asleep or takes himself off--otherwise he will not get the higher fat hind milk that comes after the watery, low fat fore milk in the beginning.

if you are experiencing low milk supply, please try the following (some work within 24 hrs):

*these herbal supplements (they come highly recommended)
*make and eat these fenugreek sprouts
*this mother's milk tea
*drink lots of water (1-2 glasses per nursing session)
*nurse, nurse, nurse as much as possible
*try not to skip feedings, even at night
*read more here

photo via here.

fantastic pregnancy and parenting book all-in-one

mothering magazine published a wonderful, and very thorough, book called natural family living : the mothering magazine guide to parenting .  it has great info on everything from the fear factor of childbirth to questions to ask on your hospital tour to worries about milk supply while breastfeeding to breast infections to vaccinations to starting healthy solid food to positive discipline....

need i say more?

vitamins after the baby...

nearly every new mother i speak with continues taking her prenatal vitamin after she gives birth.  as did i.  of course, this is perfectly fine for a little while.  though you may want to consider getting on a really great multi vitamin as soon as you can.  you'll need it to stay super healthy particularly if you are breast feeding, because the baby sucks everything out of you!

be sure your vitamin has 10,000 iu of vitamin d, and if it doesn't, you can supplement.  also, try to find a multi that has probiotics in it like this fantastic multi vitamin from mercola--i got the seal of approval from my wonderful doctor on this one.

check out getting a blood test that includes your vitamin levels sometime in the first year after birth as mentioned in this previous post.

photo via here.

study up on the metabolic screening test for your newborn...

this is one of those things that your nurse at the hospital or, in the case of a home birth, your pediatrician over the phone busts out in the first few days of your baby's life.  and, um, there is not much space for doing a quick research session on your newborn's metabolic screening in the first couple of days of new motherhood.  you have to do the test by the 6th day, so you may want to look into it ahead of time.

the newborn metabolic screening is a test where the baby's heel is pricked and the blood is sent to a lab for the testing of certain metabolic diseases.  ask your doctor which diseases your baby will be tested for, and if testing positive, what the next step is.  you have the option in some states to opt out of the test.  this is a HIGHLY controversial move.  but, often the solution to a positive test result is breastfeeding.  so if you intend to breastfeed anyway, then heelprick or no heelprick, the test would be moot in my opinion.  it would be imperative that you follow a low-phenylalinine diet if you opt out of the test.  read more about the pku screening here.

photo via here.

an honest post about postpartum depression

fortunately, i did not suffer from postpartum depression, although, i did have visions of accidentally careening off of 6th floor balconies in the few months after my son was born (strangely, i have had this same scenario as a re-occurring dream for years now too).   no biggie.  dad, do not alert the authorities....apparently, this sort of thing is somewhat normal for new moms.   it came and went.

i read a beautiful, honest, candid post that lindsey mead wrote about postpartum depression, and i wanted to share.  if you know anyone having a baby, you may want to educate yourself on the signs of ppd.  use this scale to identify postpartum depression.

photo courtesy of adesignsovast.com

nap tips

my god,  what new parent doesn't want all the nap tips they can get?---oh the beloved nap!!

i'm not about to tell you to put the baby in the car.  that's too easy.  i discovered 2 nap secrets that i never read anywhere that i'd like to share:

1.  try to get the room as dark as possible.  you may even want to invest in black out curtains or thick, dark-colored fabric ones.

2.  the best time to move the baby from your arms to the crib is when they are breathing noticeably slower and louder.  also, check for the "dead" arm (theirs, not yours).  these are good signs of a deep sleep....deep enough to go for the gold!!

always try to breastfeed when baby gets a shot

if your baby has to get a shot (or any invasive procedure like stitches, etc), try to breastfeed her during it to keep her cortisol, a stress hormone, levels low.  if you are not allowed to breastfeed during the procedure, try to nurse right away after.  if you are no longer breastfeeding, a good snuggle and letting baby be comforted by your smell will certainly help soothe them.

the first day of the new year.

to all mothers and mothers to be,

listen to your intuition.  you want to be a good mother.  you are a good mother.  do what you think is best.  if you do not have a support system for what you think is best, reach out to an organization that can help you.  conflicting opinions can be confusing, but listen to your heart and treat your child with empathy, and you will establish a deep and loving connection....

sh*t happens : you may as well learn some natural tricks

let me just get right down to it....constipation is a fact of life that becomes really scary in the days immediately after giving birth (stay with me here, even if you aren't pregnant).  you'll read in one of my previous posts that fruit, and pure prune juice, should be priority food staples in the days after having a baby.  try to steer clear of pain killers if possible as they are notorious for clogging you up even more so.

here are some tips that i learned from my physical therapist to help if you are constipated and find yourself scared and on the toilet:

*breathe deep with good posture

*release your tailbone so that it relaxes toward the back of your body

*press on your perineum to aim your bowel movement toward the back (away from your vagina/stitches)

*squat on the floor with your feet flat (reflexology points help) and thighs pressed against abdomen--you may poop on the floor, but who cares?

*if you prefer, do the last position balancing on the toilet seat (i know)

*sing or talk out loud

i know most of these sound insane, but i swear they work.  i swear.  i am speaking from experience.

recent nyt article : does breastfeeding help you loose the baby weight?

this past week, there was an interesting article in the new york times about whether breastfeeding helps mothers lose weight.   some not only lose the weight, but start dipping below their original pre-pregnancy weight.
if you intend to breastfeed, you'll have to eat approximately 500 calories more than normal for your baby.  but be careful that they are not just empty carb calories.  aim for fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains, etc.

first weeks with baby : you're going to need help

you may be superwoman, but caring for a newborn is like nothing you've ever experienced.  it certainly is not impossible, but at the very least, please ask your husband to stay home form work for the first week home from the hospital.  beyond that, trust me, take up every offer of help because you will need it.  if someone offers to drop off food, just tell them yes and when they should do it.  if a friend offers to come over and sit and hold the baby, say yes and take a shower or a nap.  and have them grab lunch for you on their way---and they may also need to put it straight into your mouth for you or you might forget.  if you're breastfeeding, you need to constantly eat to replenish--and some days it is tough to constantly prepare snacks for yourself.  also, you should drink at least a glass of water each time you breastfeed your baby.

baby registry : the one layette item that we couldn't have lived without

certainly everyone would have their own particular item here.  and honestly, i guess the true answer would have been diapers (though there is a school of parents that think babies shouldn't wear diapers...um, ok)....i digress....

baby gowns!  baby gowns is my answer!  my son wore them from day one until they were thread bare around the 4 month mark when we finally moved on from them.

the fact of the matter is that you are going to change a bajillion diapers in those first few months and the gown has the quickest and easiest access.   the snaps on onesies add extra work and pants are no easy feat.  plus, this way, dressing the baby becomes a much more pleasurable and quick experience for everyone.

additionally, they are great for baby to sleep in because they are like having a built in blankie.  they are also womblike and allow baby to feel his own limbs/legs as he gets to know his body.

if you can find a convertible gown, it will certainly come in handy too as it can transition into a pants onesie.

first weeks with baby : feel comfortable going out and breastfeeding in public....in cute, easy-access tops!

this may sound insane, but after our homebirth, we did not go out into public with our baby until he was 3 weeks old.  and by "public", i mean we walked 2 blocks to some shops around the corner from our house. not only was it the height of flu season (and we were a little paranoid), but i was recovering from a pelvic injury, so it just took us a while to venture out.

also, it's tough to get it together enough, if you're breastfeeding, to feel like you can comfortably get the baby on your breast without flashing everyone at a restaurant or store (by week 4, i could give a rat's ass about flashing everyone at my family reunion if i had to).   so, i would like to dedicate this post to breastfeeding fashions.

i have laughed with other mothers about how, in the first weeks, we only owned 2 garments that we could breast feed in...a robe and a zip up hoodie.  as you may have noticed, these have not been at the height of fashion in recent seasons, plus you start to feel bad about the permanent zipper imprints on your baby's face after a while.

ok, back to the fashion....cue the music....

i found that once you get your breastfeeding bra worked out, tops are easy.  you have probably already seen the nursing tanks and often expensive and blaaah tees that are in the marketplace, so i will jump to what i found to be easy, affordable, and stylish.....

victoriassecret.com

that's right (it's not just skanky underwear on there! they have great clothes.), once you feel like you have a handle on what your general body size is going to be like post-baby (i knew this within a few days), jump on your computer and start ordering.  you're going to want to order henley styles that can be unbuttoned decently low down.  any top that has a surplice style (looks like an overlapping v-neck) or fitted cardigans are good too.  even tops with large v-necks and cowlnecks will work great.  oh, and don't forget the forgiving babydoll top.  you will live in these for as long as you breastfeed, unless you choose to go the route of just lifting your shirt to allow baby to feed.  also, i cannot stress the importance of cute tops with pockets enough---really great for stashing the cell phone or keys on the fly.

money saving tip--sign up on their website to be on their email list, since they constantly send out sale emails.

the most common breast infections and how to avoid them while breastfeeding

first, let me say that hopefully none of these infections will ever be considered deal-breakers for you. we are not mothers because we thought it would be easy and always convenient, right?   all of this stuff is fixable....i just wish i had known ahead of time about a couple of potential breast infections, so that i may have been able to avoid them.   here's your head's up....

thrush:
otherwise known as a yeast infection in your breasts (who knew?), can be extremely painful and very challenging to get rid of if you choose to do it naturally. it often first shows up in baby as diaper rash and, worst case, as white spots in baby's mouth. other symptoms include painful shooting pains in your breasts.

like the other kind of yeast infection that women can get, this one can be caused from too much sugar in your diet. don't forget that even too much juice, fruit, and bread can push your body into the sugary yeast zone. help the good bacteria in your intestines kick the yeast's ass by taking a probiotic or acidopholus. you can get these in foods like kefir or yogurt (go plain here or it's really high in sugar), or in capsule form.

if you or baby end up taking antibiotics anytime before, during, or after birth, you are at risk of a yeast infection....as antibiotics wipe out the bad and good bacteria in your intestines. yeast can also be caused from constant moisture against the breasts and nipples. be sure you air out your nipples as much as possible. i know that sounds impossible when they are leaking like a faucet several times a day....but you can do it!

there are several options for trying to rid your life of yeast after an infection---all of which are fairly laborious---and it can be hard to find the time as a new mom.

plugged ducts and mastitis: 
one of your many milk ducts can become clogged and form a little pea or grape size nodule in your breast. be sure to feel your breasts at least once a day to check for these. if you have a plug, you'll want to massage the area with your hand under warm shower water, or use a warm wet rag (a wet diaper in the microwave works great too!) several times a day to try to loosen the clog---and feed, feed, feed baby. yes, it feels a little weird to massage a little hard lump in your boob, but you gotta do what you gotta do, because you do not want it to turn into mastitis.

mastitis is not the end of the world--i have had it 3 times in the last 10 months. the symptoms can range from a sudden onset of chills (always in the evening for me) that turn into flu-like achy symptoms for about 12 hours to the random appearance of a red hard sore area on your breast--or both. you'll need to rest as much as possible and massage the sore area several times a day like you would do with a plugged duct--and feed, feed, feed baby.  sore spot usually disappears in a few days.

avoid plugged ducts and mastitis by not skipping feedings, breastfeeding in multiple positions (cross-cradle, football hold, side-lying), not wearing a bra that can constrict ducts, keeping breasts dry, and resting when you feel run down (ha ha, i know).

who doesn't love a frozen maxi pad?, mesh underwear, and more....

be sure to warn your husband, if he likes to grab a cold snack while half-asleep at night, that the new "treats" in the long box in the freezer are not ice cream sandwiches.  a vaginal birth can will leave you tender and tow' up (from the flow' up), so it's not a bad idea to have some maxi pads stashed in the freezer to be able to use for soothing.

you may also want to buy some mesh disposable undies (um, kind of similar to those shown above...does he have eyeliner on?...who cares!) as you may likely bleed through your maxi pad and ruin all of your underwear. and for bleeding beyond that, which is relatively normal, send your hubby out to the drug store to buy some disposable underpads to protect your bed sheet.

then ask him to put on some mesh underwear and some of your eye make-up.

kegels are not just for sexy times.

yes, yes, yes...i know you know about kegels.  you used to do them at every stop light during your early twenties.  now back to reality.  if you're having a baby they are super important.  not only should you be doing kegels up until you deliver, but it is imperative that you do them immediately after birth.

if you have no idea what the hell i'm talking about, a kegel is--according to wikipedia--an exercise that "consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor."

i had a pelvic injury during birth, and it ends up that this is not uncommon.  more on that later.   weakened pelvic muscles can lead to issues including hemorrhoids, incontinence, and bladder prolapse--and some of these may not show up right away.  just add kegels to your list of important things to remember immediately following birth.

the phenomenal, phabulous, liphe-saving physical therapist, anita russek-lendach, taught me the proper way to do a kegel.  as it ends up, i was doing it half-right all these years---sorry guys.  you may have heard a kegel described as a tightening of the muscles that you use to stop your pee.  well yes, use these, but also incorporate your anus. you want to tighten/pull the pelvic muscles from the front (vagina) and the back (anus) toward each other and have these 2 groups meet right around the perineum---then pull them all upward and toward your belly button in one fell swoop....i always find that, if i visualize while trying, these pelvic exercises just somehow come together properly.