Learn the 6 steps to weaning night feedings! Help your baby stop waking up in the middle of the night and eat during the day instead. Night times were the worst. Even though I was sleep deprived both day and night, something about waking up when I was supposed to be asleep made those evenings hard. Waking up multiple times a night, with feeding as the only way to soothe your baby back to sleep, takes a toll on any parent. Those were the times when I'd wake up, delirious from the little sleep I managed to get. I'd yell at my husband or start hating my predicament. On good days, I'd find … [Read more...]
9 Unique Tricks to Increase Your Milk Supply
Are you barely pumping enough breastmilk for your baby and struggling with low milk supply? Learn the 9 unique tricks to increase breast milk! I couldn't believe what I saw. I was browsing through a parenting board when I clicked on a fellow mom's post about breastfeeding. Whereas many moms struggle with producing enough, she was asking around for advice on what to do with her stash of extra breast milk. Except "extra" doesn't exactly cut it. She posted a photo of bags and bags of frozen breast milk, overflowing her already packed freezer. Meanwhile, I was barely pumping enough at … [Read more...]
Tandem Breastfeeding: How to Breastfeed Twins
As if breastfeeding wasn't challenging enough, now you're dealing with two! Learn the best tips on tandem breastfeeding. The lactation consultant entered my hospital room. "Let's practice tandem feeding," she proposed. We propped a few pillows under my arms, and she handed each baby to me. As natural and easy as I hoped it would be, I instead felt awkward and inexperienced. How was I supposed to support each of their floppy heads? What do I do when I need to burp them? And the pillows were just not cutting it—my arms felt sore from holding the babies. And while I breastfed my … [Read more...]
Lansinoh SmartPump Review and Giveaway: How One Mom Keeps Her Milk Supply Up
Interested in pumping to keep your milk supply up? Read the Lansinoh SmartPump review to see if this one's right for you. This is a sponsored Lansinoh SmartPump review and interview written by me on behalf of Lansinoh Laboratories. All opinions are 100% mine. There's no denying that pumping plays a key role in breastfeeding. Before I left the hospital, the nurses encouraged me to pump from day one to encourage milk supply. Once I was home, I pumped so others could feed the babies as well. I was also able to get a break from nursing. And if you have a low supply, pumping is a fantastic way … [Read more...]
Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty for Pumping at Work
Do you feel guilty for pumping many times at the office? It's easy to feel self-conscious, but here's why you shouldn't feel guilty for pumping at work. It had been a few days since going back to work and it still felt like all eyes were on me. I felt the pumping stigma. You know, the feeling that keeps you from asking for a private room to pump. The guilt when you leave your desk three to four times a day. Dashing into the pumping room hoping no one saw you enter. I've even heard some moms who've resorted to pumping in the car. Why the guilt? I worried that once people knew I was … [Read more...]
Scared to Breastfeed? 7 Reasons That Will Tame Your Fear
If you're pregnant and scared about breastfeeding, you're not alone. Many moms are scared to breastfeed. Learn the 7 reasons that will tame your fear. I didn't understand how other moms couldn't wait to nurse their babies, or how they see breastfeeding as a time to bond. All I had on your mind is how I was ever going to pull it off. If you're scared to breastfeed, you're not alone. Many moms dread the thought of breastfeeding a baby. First time moms might not know what to expect, and veteran moms may have had a negative experience with their older children. 7 reasons you're scared to … [Read more...]
How to Wean from Breastfeeding
Learn fool-proof ways to wean from breastfeeding! Find out which feedings to start with and how to stop breastfeeding smoothly. I was finally ready—I was done wearing nursing tops and bringing my pump to work every day. After meeting my goal of pumping for a full year, struggles and all, I began to prepare to wean my baby from breastfeeding. As with saying goodbye to anything, weaning can be a bittersweet moment. Yes, I wouldn't have to pump every day, and I'd no longer be the only source of food for my baby. But breastfeeding also gave me the chance to nurse and bond with him in ways … [Read more...]
7 Breastfeeding Essentials to Keep You Motivated
Want to meet your breastfeeding goals? Discover the 7 breastfeeding essentials to keep you motivated, no matter the obstacles you face. I just about had it. The sore nipples, the hour-long breastfeeding sessions, the leaking—I was over it. I felt glued to my first baby and shot dagger eyes at anyone who suggested feeding him the second he would fuss. I was ready to give up. And that was just five days in. Breastfeeding is hard. Staying motivated with breastfeeding might need daily pep talks and reminders about its benefits. And one of the best ways to stay on track is equip … [Read more...]