Happy Family Organic Super Foods Review

Hey guys!!! So Happy Families Brand arranged for me to review several of their products and I think I can do it all in one posting. I am going to review  Happy Munchies, and their Happy Tot Morning.


I do try to encourage mothers to make their own foods for baby and to have baby eat what the family eats but not all families like that option or are capable of that so it is important for their to be other healthy options out there.


Happy Munchies
We chose their rice cakes. This product is for children aged 7 months or older who can sit unassisted and grasp items and put them in their mouths. Teeth would make eating this product easy but not necessary with adult supervision. The saliva can soften it enough for baby to break off an appropriate amount. This product is certified organic and we chose the flavor Berries and Beets. The company highlights that there is no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and is lightly sweetened with fruit juice. We also saw apple flavored but we wanted to try something different with our pallet ;) The ingredient list is pretty limiting which is good (Organic Brown Rice, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Red Beet Juice Concentrate, Organic Blueberry Puree, Organic Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1) ) and gives warning that the product may have been exposed to other products that contain soy (meaning they used the same equipment).



What I like:
 Before giving it to my girl I tried some. The flavor is very light, not overwhelming at all and must have just the right blend of berries beets because the awful taste of beets was not there. The rice cake is a slight purple color but I assume that is from the light flavoring from the juice. It feels and looks like the traditional rice cake except a smaller portion. When giving my girl her own serving she handled it well. Its made perfect for little chubby fingers. She was able to break off the appropriate amount so I was not concerned about chocking. She was not a fan of the taste at first but I assume she grew to love it because she finished the rice and cake and signed for more while yelling "More please!" I do like how they are easy "to-go" snacks. If you are in the position where you can not keep fresh fruits and veggies cool or maybe you are not a position to handle the mess I think these are nice and convenient and can fit nicely in a snack cup. I sometimes send these for snack with my older girl for school. There is only 1g of sugar and 20 calories according to the package.



What I do not like:
There is not much that I do not like about this product accept that there is not too much going on nutritionally according to the package, there is no protein, no vitamin C, no vitamin A, no calcium and no iron but this could also be due to the fact that beets and berries do not have too much of these ingredients and according to the packaging they only used very little flavoring so one would assume not much of the vitamins and minerals landed in the product.



Over all I think this snack is great and should be treated as a snack and not to replace full balanced meals.

Happy Tot Morning
We chose banana, blueberry yogurt flavor just to see how it compares to mama's homemade blend ;)
This product is aimed for children 12 months and older who can sit unassisted and grasp items and can place them in their mouths. No teeth needed as its the same consistency as a puree. The product is certified organic and the company highlights that there are 750mg of omega3 from Salba, its made from whole grains and oats, and 3g of fiber. The ingredient list is pretty limited which is good(Organic Banana Puree, Water, Organic Blueberry Puree, Organic Whole Milk Greek Yogurt (Organic Cultured Whole Milk), Milled Organic Salba Chia Seed, Organic Whole Grain Oat Flour, Contains 1% or Less of the Following: Organic Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate.) and the yogurt used is Greek yogurt for those that are into Greek yogurt.


What I like:
My girl is picky all of a sudden so its hard to get something worth anything into her body now unless its breast milk. This seems like a good wholesome options that includes a blend of several different healthy options. I have never been a fan of the pouches and the slurp yogurt tubes so I squeeze the contents into a bowl and offer it my girl with a spoon (or fingers which ever she's in the mood for). The texture to me was more like yogurt and had a tan coloring. It smelled like bananas and it tasted it like it as well. My girl gobbled it up quickly and wanted more! Its packed full of good stuff like 210mg of potassium, 6% DV of iron, 2% DV of Folate, and 6% DV of magnesium. There's only 2g of Fat. We use this in addition to other breakfast options or I cut up pieces of bananas and berries and add to the blend for more texture.


What I do not like:
Again as I mentioned earlier I am not a fan of the fact that its a pouch. I like to be able to see what is going on inside and like to see if there is any spoiling or molding. I remedy this by putting the contents in a bowl but the item is marketed as the child being able to just "drink" the blend from the pouch. Another thing that I am not a fan of is that there are 10g of sugar but I am going to attribute that to the fact that it has so many different fruit and fruit juices added.




Overall I think for the mother that can not or chooses not to make her own yogurt blends for her child to eat this is a great option. In my opinion it is a healthy option and can be incorporated into a balanced diet but should not be the only source of nutrients.

Free Swag!!!!!

*** This review is part of a Giveaway that will go live on the Facebook fan page 11/17/14 or you can click here  ***




**This blog is not intended to give nutritional advice and questions about your child's nutrition should be addressed to your child's pediatrician or nutritionist.**

Time for Lift Off

So as most of you all know I am now a certified lactation consultant. It was a long and tough road to get here but I am here and I am loving every moment of it!

Since becoming certified I have started to see private consultations. I will say this... I am in LOVE with this and I WISH I could do this full time!!!! I love going to mamas' houses and seeing them all settled and relaxed holding their wee ones and I get to sit right next to them and converse casually with them and their families all while watching baby behave  naturally in mom's arms. All so very comfortable and less medical. I am able to get babies to feed more readily and cooperate a ton better then I can here, at my work office, and the mothers are more relaxed and less frazzled. The older kids are comfortable and playing happily instead being a distraction to mom and baby (which is normal when they are bored). I find that when I visit families at their homes the dad's are more receptive and they are more hands on then in the office and I am finding even more supportive.

Its just something about being at home!


I visited with a mom and we chatted about the news, the weather, her birth, the hospital food, and older children and how receptive they were of the new baby and her fears about going back to work until she realized that baby was nursing and there was no pain! She was so relaxed and laid back she had no idea I had positioned baby tummy to tummy with her (even though I asked her if I could position baby) and that I had deepened baby's latch in the process. She called me "stealth helper" hahahaha I am okay with that.

This is how it should be so comfortable and casual and laid back.

I do dream of one day working in the hospital setting or maybe in a pediatric office full time so that I would not have to charge mama's directly for my services, or if maybe all insurances covered lactation consultant visits I can do home visits full time.

But for now I will continue down my path. I like it so far it feels good!

Here's to start of something good! Hopefully more good in on the way!!!

Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pad Product Review

About the product:

 

These are reusable gel pads that have a cooling effect to help aid in soothing sore nipples due incorrect or poor placement. You can use right out of the package and place on nipples between feeding and pumping. It comes with trays that they can be stored in that you can place in the fridge for extra cooling effect. Can be used for up to 72 hours and has fabric on the other side of the gel part to help protect the nipple from friction. The gel used is a vegetable based glycerin so it is vegan.This product was the winner of The Bump Best Baby Award.

 

What I like about the product:

 

This product appeals to because of the ease of use. It works right from the package. You do not need to do anything extra in order to have it work effectively. When you open it you remove it from its tray and place it right on the nipple and the soothing begins! It comes with trays that you can store the gel pads in between nursing and pumping sessions to help keep them clean. You can also use these trays to store them in the fridge to help "keep" them longer and to make sure their cleanliness is maintained. The gel gets pretty cold on its own but if you need added coolness you can place them in fridge for this purpose as well. From my understanding reading the box you can wear them consecutively for 72 hours but if you take them off and place them in the fridge (take a break from them) you can stretch this out to about a week.

 

What I do not like about the product:

 

If you have read any of my other reviews you will know for products like this I am not a fan of "extra steps". The breast must be washed off free of the gel between feeds and pumping. For the mother that is feeding on demand and maybe in the middle of the night this "extra step" can be a little daunting especially if you throw your impatient baby in the mix. Talking to other mommy friends who have used the product as well never complained about the extra step because they were just so relived by how effective the product is. If you are a mama that leaks milk  great deal between or during sessions this may not be a good product for you. For some odd reason I leaked a small amount (very rare this happens if at all) and there was some kind of "residue" so I am assuming they aren't very absorbent like regular nursing pads. Not necessarily a bad thing since that's not what they are being marketing as. I am also a bit put off for the price. For just two disposable pads it can run you anywhere from $8-$10 dollars so for the mama in a pinch this could be a deterrence. Sometimes you can catch them on sale at your local baby department store or maybe you can land a Lansinoh coupon for a dollar or two off.

 

Overall:

 

I do like the product. Its very easy to use and very effective. I wouldn't say its a must have for every nursing mother but for the nursing mother in need these could go a long way.

 

 

Let me know what you thought about these soothing gel pads :)

 

***These will be included in a Breastfeeding Basket Giveaway watch the Facebook page for details!***

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin Nipple Ointment Product Review

Lansioh HPA Lanolin Ointment

When you start your breastfeeding journey it is not uncommon to hear about dry, cracked and sore nipples. I personally experienced some of this with my nurslings. I had husband go out and purchase this product and now I put it in every baby shower/ breast feeding  basket that I give out.

About the product:

The nipple ointment is lanolin based intended for helping to heal cracked nipples quickly and soothing sore nipples due to poor latch or irritation. It is a hypoallergenic solution so it can be used for majority of mothers and babies.

What I Like:

I like how quickly this product works to help soothe injured nipples. This combined with air time decreased my healing time greatly which is great because breastfeeding needs to be done on demand. I also like how a little goes a long way. The hospital recommended this with my retired nursling and it lasted a couple of months. When I no longer needed I still had majority of the tube left when I found it while cleaning out the nursery. When applying the product I do like how there is no need to wipe off between sessions. This is a bonus because at night when you are half sleep you're not going to remember to wipe off product from your nipple plus it defeats the purpose of soothing and healing them if there is not protection during the actual nursing session. Also in a pinch this can also be used to help protect a tush that has a beginning case of diaper rash. I also used this for lubrication for my pump flanges when I wasn't "gliding" very well. This item is priced very well (compared to other lanolin products) at $7-$9 for 40g tube depending on where you shop at. If that price is not within reach from what I have noticed most stores run a special on this or you can score a coupon for $1 off.  Lansinoh is a very good company so if you feel that you are not 100% happy with the product just give them a call!

What I do not like:

I will say my only complaint about this product is that of the other lanolin based products I have experience with this one seems to be very "sticky" and needs to be warmed up a bit before applying. I would squirt a small amount out and rub between my fingers for a few seconds before I used. This extra step isn't necessary for the effectiveness of the product but I do fine that it goes on more evenly and quickly when warmed.


Over all:

This is a great product especially for the cost and very useful in those early days. I definitely recommend this product to anyone unless they are allergic to lanolin. When I have friends that are breastfeeding I always include this product in the breastfeeding baskets I create for them because its so useful and very helpful.


****this product will be included in the breastfeeding basket give away. Please check Facebook or the website for details on how to snag this and other great gifts!******

Waiting is hard.....

I started my breastfeeding journey with the horrible birth of my Retired Nursling. I had failed at her birth I was determined to be successful with her nutrition. With the support of Dr Google and my husband I went on to breastfeed my darling until she was 13 months when she quite suddenly. I was not ready to give up the dream so I pumped for her for two more months until she looked at me and said "no mom the other milk" :( that was a sad day.

From that weaning day I put my nose in every breastfeeding article, journal, etc. I wanted to know all there was to know about breastfeeding.

I started to go to La Leche League meetings when I was pregnant with my second so that I could learn everything I could about breastfeeding before she was here. Even though I was successful the first time around I wanted to be a master when my baby arrived.

She came out and latched on like a pro and has been nursing for 20 months and counting. I see no end in sight and I am okay with that!

By this time I have read pretty much every article there is on breastfeeding. I set a quest to become an LLL Leader so I purchased The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and was in love. More information, more stuff I didn't know! I must have all knowledge!

By this time I had already landed a job with the WIC office where I could use my skills to help women breastfeed and I had also become a regular at the LLL meetings so I could share my knowledge there. I had joined an online breastfeeding forum and got to share my wisdom there as well. I shared so much they even asked me to be admin!

By this time I had started to look into how I could make breastfeeding not only my passion but my profession. I wanted to help all mothers who wanted the help. I didn't care if I got paid or not I just wanted to help so a friend pointed me in the direction of the IBCLC or International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Its like a light went off. I HAD to do this. Its like God had come from the heavens and said "hey stupid apply" so I looked into it. It was lots that they required of you to even be considered to take the test not to mention that hefty $600 fee attached to it! I was nervous about the fee but my husband said "money doesn't matter just take the test because I know you'll pass". I wasn't so sure but with his blessing I pressed on!

After going over all of the pre-requisites I saw that I had everything but hours and lactation specific classes. It took me 3 months to complete the 90 lactation specific hours and 1 year to get all of my hours but I did it. I applied for the test in March, handed over my money and prayed to God that I was not wasting my money or time.

July 28th came very quickly. I found myself in the parking lot of the testing center about 45 minutes early shaking, nervous, and skimming. I had all of my books and was skimming all the information I highlighted. I pulled out my flash cards and skimmed them over. Then 10 minutes before test time came and I had to go inside the building....

They asked for my ID, my passport, and my finger print! If anything is going to make you nervous its when you have to voluntarily give up a finger print! The lady smiled while typing my information into the computer and asked for me to take off my jewelry. My bracelets with my lady Saints had to go into the locker that held my phone, purse and keys, I had to remove my rosary as well. She let me keep my earrings and my wedding ring then she ushered me to the back room with my picture ID.

Here I was met by a short little old lady that pointed to some rules on the wall that I was told I had to follow but I have no idea what they said to this day because I was so nervous I think my eyes were starting to blurr. She made me show her my pockets were empty gave me a dry erase board and marker and showed me what computer I would be at and that the test would start after I answered the prompted questions.

I sat down a nervous wreck but I took a deep breath forced myself to relax and started to type and read......


They give you 4 hours to take the test but after 2 hours I was out and second guessing everything that I had entered. I called husband and told him that I felt "okay" about the test but not 100%.  I rushed home to read my books that were telling me every question I answered was wrong. When I took the test I got a paper at the end that said "results at the end of October". Three freaking months of waiting and waiting and waiting!!

people would ask me at least once a week "did you hear anything??" "how did you do?" "When do you find out?" I'm like dude I have no clue I have to wait!!!!! And boy did they wait until the END of October!


Until today that is... October 27, 2014 I got a text message from a good friend that asked me if I had received any "special mail". I was at work at least 3 miles from my mailbox "No I didnt get any special mail did you get any special mail?" At this point I had texted my husband 5 times to tell him to check the mail... no response... more waiting the results are right there why is he not responding we were just talking about dinner!!! I know i'll call him! called once...voicemail..... called twice... voicemail... I am on the verge of ripping my hair out I get a text "why do you need me to check the mail? are the results in?" DUH?? WHY ELSE WOULD I BE CONCERNED FOR MAIL??? WE GET NOTHING BUT BILLS!!!!!!! "no mail yet. I will take the girls for a walk and see if we can find him in the neighborhood"

mail truck being stalked doing his job

He sends me this picture of the mail truck with the message "hes in the neighborhood" I have worked myself into a nervous fit by now i have to pee like a race horse. I go pee when I get back to my desk                 I see I missed a text message from hubby:

 

Certificate fresh out the mailbox

 

Yes ladies and gentlemen I passed the exam!!! I am a board certified lactation consultant!!!!!!(Well starting November 1st)  How freaking stoked am I but holy cow that was the longest wait ever!!!!!!! 

All framed up with my name tag!

***edited*** I would like to thank my husband who encouraged me to take the exam and spend the money even though I was super apprehensive. Even after I had psyched myself out he still believed in me and my capabilities. I am so happy to be married to him and have him on this journey! 





Birth Belongs to Women not the Hospital

I went to a birth and breastfeeding conference on Friday. It was the best experience ever. I connected and talked to people I would normally not have any dealings with and I got so many great ideas to try to help the mothers at my job and in the community. There were several speakers that presented but one had my attention and not just because she was from my Alma Mater ;)

So I attended Virginia Commonwealth University(VCU) for my undergrad. While there the medical college's hospital did not have a great reputation. If you wanted to have a baby do not go to VCU Medical Center but if you got shot 9x then go there!!!! If you get a certain type of cancer that was the place for you but if you have a cold stay away. It is one of the best trauma hospitals  and one of five level one trauma centers in the entire state of Virginia so its rightfully so that if you stroll in there with your leg hanging on by a thread you will walk out recovered and leg firmly attached (exaggeration I am not sure if that particular scenario ever happened lol) How wonderful!

So the presenter is a midwife at VCU Medical Center and she was presenting on all of the new and wonderful things that are happening at the hospital. They facilitated a change about 3-4 years ago and she wanted to share the results. They are actually following the guidelines set forth by ACOG for birth practices and they are working on becoming Baby Friendly (if they have not already). Because of their sudden change they now have 85% VBAC success rate, 87% unmediated births (in midwifery) and less then 10% c-section rate from midwifery.

There's no more being strapped to the bed and having monitors on you continually-- mothers are allowed to move around and walk around. They ENCOURAGE different birthing positions and not just the traditional one on your back that makes birth easier for the doctor NOT the mother. They ENCOURAGE birth plans! Moms can eat and drink during labor with IV as long as she doesn't have the epidural (epidural can cause vomiting), the birth tub is an option AND the shower! They practice the hands off approach as long as there is progression (slow or fast), they utilize forceps and versions and they do not mind a breach delivery.  There are no discussion of inductions until AFTER the mother has hit 42 weeks and they educate their clients on what their birth RIGHTS are not the hospital's RECOMMENDATION. They even do VBACs up to two sections. They practice RESPECTFUL maternal care.

They practice delayed cord clamping for vaginal and for as long as they can with sections

I realize this presentation was given by a Midwife but the doctors are practicing this too. They took tips from the midwives on how birth is SUPPOSE to be. And if the birth comes to a c-section they practice "gentle c sections" or they utilize the "tunnel" so mom can still have a positive outcome even if its not the original outcome she hoped for.


1/3 of mothers in the US are having babies via c-section and of that 35.8% are African American mothers. Has evolution failed us or has our medical practices failed us? Woman are not broken they can birth their babies and if left alone they can do this. Contrary to popular belief there is more to it then a "baby being born alive" and "healthy mom and baby". Birth sticks with a mother for the REST OF HER LIFE as long as her brain has the capability to remember it. Her children are constant reminders of the outcome from the birth and birthdays are constant reminders of that day. From experience, if the mother had a traumatic birth she is no longer "healthy". Her mental health is not well.

I am not opposed to women if they want to have elective c-section or use the epidural but I am opposed to mother's not getting to choose the birth they want. I do not like it when mothers are bullied and doctors do not explain. I am not a fan of doctors just not caring and posting signs in the lobby stating "if you want a natural birth go to a different provider" (i've seen this one!!!) or doctors dropping patients because they are asking questions about their maternity care practices (like are we suppose to follow blindly like sheep?). Doctors have their place and they need to step in if its life or death not time and money.

So to all my pregnant mamas or if you know a pregnant mama I think it is worth it to check out what they have going on at VCU Medical Center. They take most all insurances and they welcome transfers from other doctors who do not have faith in their mamas. Please check out their Facebook they have awesome pictures of all the births they have done MCV Midwifery Facebook

The midwife that gave the awesome presentation was Amber Price and she can be found catching babies at VCU Medical Center http://VCUmom.com (804) 828-9270

Click worthy Links:
7 Universal Rights of Childbearing Women
Awesome Video on Respectful Maternity Care
VCU Medical Center Skin to Skin Video
Gentle or Family Centered C-Sections
Video of Gentle C-Section
Delivering own baby during Csection (tunnel)
Birth Data from 2012 (CDC)
How VCU Health Systems Rank (you can use this website to see how your area hospital ranks VA only)

If you are a new mom and wanting information OR a previous section mommy wanting VBAC support :
ICAN- International Ceasarean Awareness Network
Birth Matters Virginia
Post Partum Support VA
Black Women Do VBAC (facebook)
ACOG
and of course my website :)

Wear ALL the Babies!!!!!

Its Babywearing Week!!!

Babywearing is not my "thing" as far as passion BUT it has been so useful to me and helped me parent a little better. It also made caring for two children a ton easier especially when during growth spurts and fussy time. The baby gets what they need and I am still hands free to tend to the other child.

So here is my top 5 reasons why I love babywearing and I encourage you to give it a try!!!

Me and Nursling walking around the neighborhood

5) No need to carry that heavy car seat everywhere or worry about toting that larger then life stroller!

This is my little life hack. With my oldest I recall standing in Target's parking lot trying to pull out the heavy over sized stroller from the trunk of my Nissan Sentra (yup that trunk is small!) and then attempt that "one handed open" which usually takes two hands. Once I get the stroller all "set up" now I have to remember to lock the wheels (yup I've had run away stroller before) then go and unhook the heavy car seat from the base that seems to gain 10 tons for every pound the baby gains then put it properly inside the stroller (listen for the 'click'). There goes 10-15 minutes of  my life only to get in there and the baby is screaming her head off because she wants out! With my second I discovered the wonderful world of babywearing and it was great! I just tied my Mei Ti on me insert baby and kept it moving and if baby decides that she wanted to eat while I was shopping all I had to do was loosen it a little and let her nurse in the carrier. All was right and I was free to spend my entire pay check in Target uninterrupted.

4) What crying baby??

Babies love to be held especially new babies! They were inside of your belly for 40+ weeks and go to feel all the swaying and rocking motions of you walking around plus the soft rhythm of your heartbeat. Its only natural that they seek comfort in that now that they are on the outside. When babies are crying because they just want the comfort of being next to your heart what easy way to soothe then to just pick them up? The downfall to this is that holding a baby all day is not conducive to being productive so now what is a mama to do?? Grab your wrap or carrier!! Wearing babies give them the feeling of being in arms, they hear your heartbeat, they can feel your skin and it calms them quickly. So calming most sleep the entire time they are being worn. If you have a colicky baby or one that has the normal "crying time" or "witching hour" babywearing can help with this too!! With my second I got lots of stuff done and I didn't have to negotiate with a crying infant who just wanted to be held in order to get it done. To this day my nursling who is 19 months can still be put to sleep in a carrier and the storm of a tantrum can be calmed by just putting her on my back!

3) No that is not my kid running up and down the aisles at Wal-Mart....

.......Well not anymore.....I think this is self explanatory. My kid is on my back viewing the world from my point of view seeing all of things on the shelf and all of strangers at "mom level" which can be less intimidating. I know you are saying "put the kid in a cart" well easier said then done my friend most small children have the attention span of a fly and putting them in the cart is short lived. In the cart they can be easily distracted by all the noises sounds and other people. While the distraction is still there in a carrier I can hone my little back in on the task at hand which is "why does Wal-mart never have what I need?" and "why do I STILL shop here??" Wearing baby also keeps your baby close during crowd situations like at the mall, a theme park, or even the airport. You need not worry about your child "getting away" from you as they will be wrapped or strapped to you. My husband jokes that during the Zombie Apocalypse all I would have to do is run. We are already carrying the precious cargo lol

Retired Nursling and Nursling at Petsmart

2)  Nothing like carrying around an extra 10 pounds to melt away the baby weight!

Most new moms (myself included) worry about getting rid of that baby weight after you have your baby. Breastfeeding helps because it does burn those extra calories but wearing your baby is like wearing a weight on you all day and it gets HEAVIER! So while you are walking around the neighborhood or the mall or Target :) just know that you are burning a little extra calories because not only are you moving with your weight you are carrying the weight of your baby too!  Some women (myself included) also do exercises while wearing baby. Some participate in yoga, low impact cardio, and muscle strengthening exercises. Even the task of vacuuming and sweeping can help you to work up a sweat when you have a baby on your back! They can be quite easy to do and the baby really enjoys them too! Check your local yoga studios or gyms to see if they offer mommy and me classes or babywearing classes.

1) Bonding made simple minus the pressure of the bottle!

Brittany Marsh "Master of the Wrap"

Babywearing is good for the baby! It stabilizes his little system and it makes him feel more secure in his environment. With this security comes trust. Trust in his caregivers and the environment is important for his survival literally and with in the house (we gotta keep the parents out of the looney bin!) A good way for baby to bond to other people outside of mama is baby wearing and the skin-to-skin that it encourages. The baby will hear the caregivers heart beat, get used to their motions and rhythms and the sound of their voice and the way they smell. Babies love human contact and the feel of skin on their skin. This will help the caregiver as well because they can smell that "newborn smell" that has been shown to get those love hormones flowing and increase bonding. What a better way to bond with a baby then to snuggle and cuddle like nature intended? I love seeing daddy's wearing their babies in stores and out and about and even better grandparents!!!!


Some of my favorite carriers are:

The Moby Wrap for the newborn period
The Mei Tai for high back carries in older infants
The Ergo baby carrier for every day and back carries also my husband finds this carrier easier for him
A Ring Sling (any will do) for quick and easy in and out wearing and comes in a ton of colors for outfit coordination :)

 When selecting a carrier always keep their hips in mind as well as other safety precautions:

For more information on babywearing and how to get started here are some great resources that helped me a ton!:

The Natural Child Project
Britt Brown Marsh Blog
Babywearing International
Babywearing International of Hampton Roads
Babywearers of Color (facebook)

HAPPY BABYWEARING WEEK!!!!

My "Bucket Filler"

Last week I received an email from my retired nursling's teacher stating that she was selected for citizen of the month because out of all the students in her class she displayed the Value of the Month: Cooperation. I was surprised! My daughter cooperates? I replied asking for the day and time of the awards and I promptly email our family to let them know just in case they wanted to go.

Well today was the day! We were so proud. She woke up before me (and the sun), picked out her own clothes, ate breakfast, brushed her teeth, got dressed all with out me having to say a word!

The ceremony wasn't until 9 but her school starts at 8, so I dropped her off then ran her little sister the sitter's. I didn't tell her but her Papa (grandfather) was going to be there as well and he was waiting at the school while I dropped off her sister.

My daughter goes to a christian faith preschool so the ceremony was held during chapel (mass). We sang songs and prayed for our day and our friends and family and then the principle came forward to give her announcements. She started by explaining what a "bucket filler" was and its pretty much someone does nice things for other people. Very sweet concept to have inside of a school. Then she started to read why each child was selected and cue the tears (for me anyways):

"I received a phone call one day from Mrs (teacher name) stating that she had someone in her class that she wanted recognized today. For those of you who do not know Mrs (teacher name) teachers the pre-kindergartners. She told me that there was a student having a particular rough time understanding the concept of losing a game. This student was in tears and could not understand why he could not win every time. Another student came over and told the child who was sad with disappointment that "its okay we can always play again next time. You can do better next time. Its okay you do not have to cry its just a game and you tried and that's the best part" This student rubbed his back and sat with him until he was feeling better. This whole process took about 10 minutes but Mrs (teacher name) felt that the was a good way to fill a bucket. The words were kind and gentle and it make her classmate feel better and when she was done she helped the other kids pick up their centers. Today it is my honor to give RN this award of citizen of the month"

I teared up I think that her Papa teared up too although he would never admit it. I know she is good kid and we try to be a good example of how to act and treat people. Some days I honestly think I have failed my children and myself in this whole gentle parenting journey but today was complete affirmation to keep going because even on the bad days she's getting it and I am getting it and we are getting it together :)

Ahesha's Birth Story

Telling your story is a very powerful thing. It helps to heal or empower the story teller and empower other mothers at the same time. Here is Ahesha's story from her blog Confused New Mom about how her beautiful daughter Abigail came into the world :)

On Wednesday, August 6, 2014, just before 3:00 am I started having noticeable contractions. They ranged from five minutes to twenty minutes apart over the span of two hours. Thankfully, I was able to fall asleep. The rest of the day was pretty normal. At 1:17 am the next morning, the contractions got going again. This time, things got started and they just continued. After about two hours, my husband Alex joined me in the timing of things. We realized this was “it”. We texted my doula, Kitty, to let her know about the contractions, and decided to see how things progressed. I slept off and on until the sun came up. 

Ahesha & her sweet new family of 3

The next few hours were a bit of a blur. We still hadn't reached the “every five minutes, lasting one minute, over the span of one hour” contraction landmark, so I just tried to take my mind off of things and continue with my morning. We had breakfast, watched movies and did laundry.

I was unsure as to when to tell my doula to come over. I did not want her to come too soon and spend half the day just watching me handle the contractions. I didn't want to wait too late either. In the end, I think we called her at a good time. Around 1 pm, she arrived at our house and with some helpful laboring positions helped me manage some of those contractions. A couple hours later, we decided it was time to head to Rosemary Birthing Home. Don’t ask me how I knew it was getting close, I just felt it. We arrived there just after 3pm.

When we got to Rosemary, my midwife, Jessica, and birthing assistant, Rose, were already prepared for our arrival. Up to this point, everyone just kept saying how I had done “everything right” and had a great chance of having a brief and/or easy labor and delivery. I know labor and birth are unpredictable, but I appreciated all of the well wishes and positive thoughts. I was seriously, honestly envisioning a peaceful, orgasmic hypnobirth where my baby would be born en caul. I watched a ton of YouTube videos and listened to hypnobirth recordings almost daily. I must say those recordings resulted in some of the best, most relaxing sleep I've ever had. I figured if I could get close to what I had in mind, I’d be AOK.

At my first vaginal check, I was 5 centimeters. I remember thinking, “Great, halfway there and I have manage this pain so far!” I stayed at 5 centimeters for a few hours, changing positions, taking a shower, breathing and relaxing in the birthing tub, with my husband. When I made it to 8 centimeters, I started thinking of a quote I read in Ina May Gaskin’s book. Suzy Jenkins Viavant said, “Then I realized I had to keep my attention on staying open, from my mind all the way down to my cervix, so that I would be like a hollow tunnel for the energy of life to pass through.” I was so grateful that Kitty suggested I read it. I just kept thinking about that and a few other positive things as often as possible. At 9.5 centimeters, I was in heaven! Well, not literally. I was in a boatload of pain, BUT the end was definitely in sight. The clock read 8 something. I remember thinking, “She could be here by 10:30. 10:30 would be awesome!” My only issue up to this point was the fact that I couldn't empty my bladder. I tried so many times and simply could not go and felt it bulging against my skin. Finally, I begged to have a catheter inserted just to get it emptied. Jessica obliged. Afterwards, I felt better. So, I forged ahead, unaware of exactly when our princess was coming but feeling like it would be soon.

It was almost midnight and I was still having outrageous contraction, still at 9.5 centimeters, and my bladder was bulging again. Catheter, STAT! Sweet relief. I asked to be checked again. At this point, Jessica noticed that I had a cervical lip. A cervical lip can happen when a part of the cervix is still present but only on one side. It can be caused when pressure from the baby is uneven. Looking back on everything that happened next, that made complete sense, along with the fact that she was balled up in one corner for most of the pregnancy.

Jessica suggested we try a few other positions. I tried everything she suggested. The side lying position was by far the most uncomfortable at this point. Normally it wasn't too bad, but with the contractions happening constantly, one right on top of the other with little break in between and the baby trying to be born, it was excruciating. Next I sat backwards on the toilet, and then walked up and down steps. After a half-dozen failed attempts to get things in order, my amazing midwife asked if she could break my water and move my cervix manually. Out went my hopes of an en caul birth, but at this point, I would have done almost anything to get the baby out. In the midst of everything going on, I became very present to what had just happened. I felt so protected. I was pleased that Jessica tried so many other things before recommending something invasive. Determined to get this baby OUT by almost any means necessary, I approved. Hurdle #2 tackled and conquered, and it wasn't that bad at all.

With my husband by my side, I got back in the tub and continued on, but not before moaning, wailing, blowing raspberries and calling of the mercy of God to get my baby here. Oh, the journey from 9.5-10 centimeters! My brain was all over the place, and so was my body, in every position I could think of. I was in an incredible amount of pain and discomfort. I still don’t know how I braved it. In fact, I don’t even know if “braved” would be the word. I contemplated (and verbalized, a few times) how I simply could not take it anymore. Despite all of the wonderful words of encouragement from my husband, my midwife and my doula, there was a point during this time where I felt completely defeated. I felt like I had done all I could do. I knew going to a hospital at this point was not an option because I probably would have experienced more time waiting and more discomfort from moving than what it would take to continue on the path I chose (although I had no idea how much longer I would be laboring). There was a moment that lasted longer than I would have wanted when I boldly declared that I had enough and didn’t know how much more I could stand. Immediately after those words left my lips, I felt so defeated and discouraged. I was so disappointed in myself. I happen to have a high threshold for pain, so that says a lot. I was upset with myself for feeling that way, and even more upset that I allowed those thoughts and feelings to pass my lips. It was then that I said I quick prayer. I decided to surrender to the process. I said, “Lord. I have done ALL I can do. I've taken this thing as far as I can on my own. If you intend for me to bring this baby into the world and live to tell about it, this is where I need you to step in.”

For a few moments, I didn’t feel any different. I didn’t notice anything special happening. In fact, I remember saying to my birthing team, “I’ve been in the same place for HOURS! Why won’t this baby come?” I started talking to her, calling her name, telling her that mommy was ready for her to come and that I needed her help. I told her to come to mommy. Still, time crept on and there was no baby yet. I was in the tub, out of the tub, back in the tub. Talk about exhausted. At some point, Alex was told by Jessica to take a nap. Normally, I would have been furious at the thought of him sleeping while I was going through this. However, the midwives and doulas know what they are doing. When they tell your husband to lie down, he’d better lie down. Thinking back on everything that happened next, I’m so glad one of us was well rested.

FINALLY, around 2:30 am, I felt an urge to push while in the tub! I was so happy that the end felt close…again. I gave it all I had and pushed harder than I ever thought I could. Nothing! Well, I won’t say “nothing”. I felt her move down, but her head did not come out. I was totally expecting her head to come out. I could feel her hair, though, so I decided I’d take that as a small victory (as if I had some other choice, right?). I gave it a total of about 5 or 6 pushes with my husband Alex behind me, Kitty holding one leg and Rose holding the other. After those pushes, her head was only out to the eyebrows!

My heart completely sank. Cue hurdle #3. A little before 4 am, Jessica told me she was going in one more time to see what was happening. Lo and behold, my little angel was in there with her hand on her face and her cord wrapped around them both. Once we got the baby home, I noticed that in one of her early ultrasound photos, she had that same little arm up in the air, near her head. Go figure.

Jessica said she was going to slip the cord around her head and that I was to push again, very hard, to get her head all the way out. All I could think about was how grateful I was that her hand was there! If it had not been, the cord could have been wrapped directly around her neck! Wait, I lied. That was the first thing I thought about, the second thing was her shoulders. I was very aware that after her head, I still had to push out shoulders and the rest of the baby. Just then, another contraction hit and it was go time! I took a deep breath, determined to give it all I had. With Jessica working on the cord and me pushing like a tiny, precious little life truly did depend on it, my baby’s entire body came rushing out!

What an experience! I still get chills thinking and talking about it. When I shared my birthing story with my mom, she made a statement that I can’t get out of my head. As a woman who has had two cesareans and two vaginal births, she said with confidence, “You know, if you had gone to a hospital, they would have forced you to have a C-Section.” I hadn't

 thought about it until then, but she was right. I would not have been able to labor for 27 hours. I would not have been able to give birth in a tub, with my husband behind me. I would have had an entirely different experience, complete with needles and drugs. Despite all of the hurdles and all of the pain, I am so grateful for the way things turned out. My husband’s support was amazing. My doula, Kitty, was on the ball, encouraging me every step of the way. My midwife, Jessica, was a rock star. She met every obstacle with knowledge and experience. They were all an integral part of the puzzle and I will never forget how powerful the experience was for me. And that moment when I broke down and was ready to throw in the towel…that moment reminded me that I am human and it’s okay to acknowledge my moments of weakness. It forced me to rely on a higher power and the people around me. It reminded me that even during birth, I need others, and that is absolutely okay. My baby girl, Abigail Samantha is here, and she is healthy and beautiful. 27 hours of drug-free labor didn't kill me. It only made me stronger. I was known to have said many times that I wasn't sure I wanted to have children. Truthfully, that was always my fear talking. I knew I would have to face my thoughts and feelings about my own childhood. As I got older, I gained a deeper understanding of what a blessing it is to be chosen to bring life into the world. I no longer take it lightly. I am so blessed and grateful for my perfect little miracle. I welcome this journey and all that comes with it. I conquered two fears at once and truly feel like I can do just about anything!

US Moms Think Public Breastfeeding is Perfectly Natural

Lansinoh-- A company that makes an assortment of breastfeeding products commissioned a survey which the results showed that US mothers think that public breastfeeding is natural. We already knew this because breastfeeding IS the natural way to feed a baby and SHOULD be done anywhere the mother darn well pleases BUT its always good to have information to back you up ;)

So lets look at the survey!

Lansinoh looked at 13,000 mothers from 9 (China, Brazil, France, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States) different countries, 2,045 of which were from the United States.

From the surveys given to the mothers in the United States:

93% believe that "Breast is Best"
64% said they would feel guilty if they did not breastfeed
57% think that breastfeeding in public is natural only 3% think its wrong

the most challenging places to breastfeed are the car, the grocery store, and the bathroom.
Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Kate Middleton are the three celebrities that US moms most identify with. 1 in 3 moms said that they would feel more comfortable breastfeeding if they saw more celebrities breastfeeding.

While this survey is promising, I am a bit concerned because mothers should not feel guilty if they choose not to breastfeed that is their choice like with all things but they should know that there has been tons of studies done to show the risk of formula feeding....with all choices there are risk and benefits and we should not shame mothers for their decisions here.

It breaks my heart that these mothers are still being shamed to the restroom to nurse their babies. Stop it people its gross in there! No one eats in the bathroom  and neither should babies.

my last point: as much as I hate to see "well X Celebrity breastfed so I am too!" I can not get away that they are highly influential and most anything do gets replicated as the new "style". I hate that they are making a natural process a "fad" but whatever... whatever gets the babies to the breasts. I do wish that there were more women of color who held such high positions that breastfeed and if they do I do wish they were more public about it.

I challenge every mother not just the breastfeeding kind that when they see a breastfeeding mom in public give her a thumbs up, high five, or at least a smile. That tiny bit of encouragement can go a long way.


Click here and here to read more about the survey.

Ancestral Parenting Product Review

I recently listened to an audio book on ancestral parenting. Here is my review!

About the Product:

Ancestral Parenting (instinctual parenting or attachment parenting) is parenting the way nature intended humans to parent instead of parenting according to what the particular society you live within tells you how to parent. This method of parenting practices keeping baby close and responding to baby's needs when the demand is there, giving baby the most natural start at life by having a medical free vaginal birth and breastfeeding, practicing elimination communication, and baby wearing. This may not be the most realistic form of parenting in today's societies BUT it is the natural way and it is what the baby expects once it enters the world. This website has an audio book to download and comes with very informative printed information that goes a little deeper into how to accomplish the different practices that come along with ancestral parenting.

What I Like About the Product:

I will first say that I love that this comes on an audio book. For a very busy "attached" mama like myself I do not always have the time to sit down and crack open a book (although I long for those days again). It was nice to be cooking dinner and this playing on the iPad or through the phone on the way to work. I also like that this speaks to mothers of color.It encourages them to look back to their roots and "reclaim" them. Often times in our society we are told to parent against what we think is right and just do things because our friends, family, and society approves. This sometimes comes to the detriment of the baby. 

Now that it has become more popular to be more natural this audio book speaks to the new mama that is looking to be more natural in her approach to parenting and childbirth and it even goes into some detail about natural healing and the use of natural remedies and essential oils for alternate medical care.

Waymatea's voice is very calm and serene as she reads through the chapters. I find that her voice put in a mental state to want to learn and also when chaos was ensuing around me, her gentle voice actually providing some calm. No bellowing or loud speaking just calm. Her voice keeps with the theme of the book. Calm and connected.

I like how the book explains the author's journey into ancestral parenting. It reminded me of how I stumbled upon this information during my initial parenting journey. I had no idea it had a name I was simply doing what felt right! It was nice to hear someone else as shocked as I was and experienced that same "ah ha!" moment.

What I Did Not Like About the Product:

The book to me seemed like an intro into something deeper with all the topics that were discussed. I was actually looking forward to learn more about each topic in hopes to hear some things that I didn't already know but felt it fell short with that expectation. Maybe perhaps a series of audio books to go along with this that talks in lengths about each practice. As I mentioned earlier, to the new mama that is looking to see what this is all about this is great but I would have liked to see more detail, more depth, more  guidance to the practices. I would have also liked to see more examples demonstrated from the different cultures on each practice. There were some examples given but I would have liked to see more mamas of color represented.

I would have liked to see better resources for the information. I heard a quote from Wikipedia, for example, which is not a credible website. To me I knew the information and have done some research myself so I knew the statement to be true but good resources makes the information more credible. 

Overall: 

Overall I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend this book to my readers and new mamas who are looking to get back to their roots and parent in a more natural way. I think this book is a great way to lay down the foundation to further knowledge of ancestral parenting and empower them to stand firm in their decision. The download was quick and easy and the attached information was easy to read. I am looking forwarding to seeing more from the author and I appreciate her for giving me the opportunity to be involved with this project. :)

Author: Waymatea Ellis of Waymatea Centre for Wellness

website: www.ancestralparenting.com 

the audio book is available for download via the website!

"Today was a bad day mama but tomorrow is a new day"

Have you ever woke up in the morning and just had a "feeling" that everything was going to go wrong? Well if not I envy you. I have had that feeling several times and yesterday that familiar feeling returned. I have to wake up early because I have to get my girls to sitter and school which is on the opposite side of town and then drive 45 minutes out of my way in the other direction because job likes to waste my gas and not pay me for it. So as usual my phone alarm goes off at 5:15 am and I wake up and stretch grab my phone to shut it off and of course check Facebook :) When I tried to get up I realized I was still "attached" to the baby so now I have to somehow encourage her to come off BUT stay asleep for at least 15 minutes so that I could shower quick. Needless to say because this day was predestined to go bad my plan did not work well at all. She stayed "attached" until 545am. I need to be out of the shower at this time so that I can wake my Retired Nursling (RN) up so she can go down and have breakfast while I get Baby Nursling (BN) dressed.

I jumped into the shower very quickly. So quickly it was still warming up while I was lathering up (the worst!). I jump out, wrap the towel around me, and went back into the bedroom to wake up RN. She of course starts to whine and fuss. I encourage her to get up and go potty then go downstairs so I can make her breakfast. Once that task was done I run up to throw clothes on myself and then to wake up BN. Now about a few weeks before BN decided she wanted to start potty learning  but I have not had a weekend to sit and dedicate to her newest milestone so when we are at home we let her go with out bottoms and she tells us when she needs to poop and pee. We also sit her on the pot as soon as she wakes up and before she goes to sleep at night. This morning nothing different I woke her up took her pants and diaper off asked her if she wanted to "put pees in the toilet" she smiled and said "yesh" and away we went. I sat her on the pot and instantly she peed. She smiled so big she is always so proud of herself and I am so proud of her. She is a smart cookie. I asked her via sign language if she is "all done" and she says "yesh". I go to grab her and she grabs the toilet seat for dear life and refuses to get up. I asked her again if she was done (including words with the sign) and she said "yesh". I go to grab her... same thing! I'm frustrated because we are completely behind schedule so I back off, I push her stool under her feet in case she feels she's actually done when before I come back and I travel down to check on RN.

 She is eating cereal, doing an activity on the iPad, and humming a song. I ask her how she is if she needed anything else. She replies "no" with out looking up. I give her the countdown to be done and head back up the stairs. BN is still on the pot kicking her feet talking to the dog who looks just as frustrated with her being on the pot still as I am. "Okay ma'am you have to be done. We have to get dressed. You can not sit here all day. You're going to get hemorrhoids." I reach to grab her this time I make sure I get her hands before she can latch on to the toilet then I pick her up kicking and screaming and hitting and maybe an attempt to bite. In the most calm voice I can muster "Please calm down I understand you're upset but you must get dressed we have to go mommy has to work". while wrestling with BN I yell down to RN to be done put away her dishes and come upstairs to get dressed. No response, of course. I pick up BN (who has calmed down by now) and travel down the stairs to see RN took 2 bites of cereal and ate no fruit just sitting down tending to her game. "You need to come upstairs and get dressed now!" "But I am not done..." "I understand but you had 30 minutes and all you did was mess around we need to go now" (insert tears here). I wish I could give her more time to eat but we just do not have that kind of time in the AM.

So, of course I have to sit down BN to help get RN dressed (insert tantrum here). Now I have two  malfunctioning kids. By now I can feel me getting to my meltdown threshold. I try to breathe through it with out saying any words but I am still getting frustrated. We are late.... we are crying because we cant sit on toilets until our butts fall off and because we chose to play instead of it.....**sigh**

we move on to the bathroom where as in my head all hell breaks loose. RN has stopped whining and goes to brush her teeth. BN is happy as long as she is on my hip. I sit her on the counter top allow her to nurse while I brush my teeth and make sure RN does a good job at brushing her teeth. Once RN is down I tell her to sit on the toilet so I can fix her hair for school "Can I have my hair like Frozen? Like the braid?" "I do not know how to do that and I do not have time to look up how to do it and practice it. I just can not do that right now" (insert whine) "I am sorry honey I just can not right now". I place BN on the floor " Can you stand here really quickly while I get sister's hair together?" Nope (insert meltdown here) I try to pick her up and she does that thing that all toddlers know how to do when they become dead weight and just melt between your arms so they are hard to hold on to no matter how hard you try. I place her back on the floor and she melt downs harder...... Her sister takes this opportunity to tell me how mean I am because I wont give her "Frozen Elsa hair" and because to white and kick and fuss. This is where mommy looses her shit and has her own tantrum. "COME ONE GUYS YOU ARE KILLING ME HERE! GET IT TOGETHER! WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS TODAY OF ALL DAYS?!" This never works as you know so know they are crying louder and harder and the baby is crying so hard at this point there is snot coming out of her knows like a waterfall. In my proudest mommy moment i pick BN and I take her to the room and lay her down "WHEN YOU ARE DONE YOU CAN COME BACK! lay down relax" nope pissed her off even more and then she follows me back down the hall to scream louder and show me how well my idea to "rest" worked out. I proceed to do RN's hair who is still upset about the stupid Frozen hair. "WHY ARE YOU STILL CRYING OVER HAIR??" I brush her hair and braid her pig-tails and just sit on the tub and look at my two kids who are crying over God knows what at this point. I just look...wasting more time making us more late but I have no clue what to do. I yelled at them, I blamed them for us being late, I punished them for demonstrating feelings that they have no control over, but most importantly I lost my shit and lashed out on them verses helping them work through their emotions. The do not know how to handle their emotions because I do not even know how to handle my emotions... I freaking yelled at them.... several times! Some control mom!


I spent the entire day at work sad because I lost my shit. Even though I apologized to them both and they to me I still felt bad. I fell bad because I yelled I feel bad because I was not a good example I feel bad because clearly I am reflecting poorly on them. To most parents this is no big deal but this is a big deal to me because I vowed to be kinder, I vowed to listen, I vowed to be nice, to my children when they were born. I vowed to do better for them, I vowed to no treat them like I was treated by my parents and look at me..... I am no better and doing exactly what I said I would not.

I get home from work.... RN is in the middle of a current meltdown. She wanted cereal for an afternoon snack BUT she went to sleep and woke up at 5pm. The issue here is that dinner is at 530p-6pm. I can feel my stress threshold rise again and I want to scream because I left to work from this and here I am again in the middle of it. My lovely husband did what he could but I can see his frustration and I try to do my best.... Which sucked this morning. I put my stuff away and sat on the couch. BN crawled in my lap... she who got the grunt of my frustration and lashing this AM was excited to see me home... the only one. She crawled in my lap and signed for "Milk" and made her attempt at saying the word. I latched her and called RN over and she sat in my lap and laid her head on the unoccupied boob. I rubbed her head she settled down and said "Today was a bad day mama...but tomorrow is a new day" (this is what we say when we are not having a good day)

Mother Love More Milk Plus Product Review

More Milk Plus (liquid)

I tested out Mother Love's More Milk Plus liquid supplement in hopes to boost my pumping supply which was starting to tank drastically. 

About the product: 

The ingredients include Fenugreek, blessed thistle, nettle, and fennel seed.
you take 1 ml 4 times a day unless you weigh 175 lbs or more then you take 2 ml 3 times a day. It is cautioned to take liquids 15 minutes before and 15 minutes after taking the supplement to maximize results. 



What I liked about the product:

I liked the ease of use. I am not a huge pill taker and thought of having to swallow 3 huge pills 3 times a day freaks me out. This was a simple drop in the mouth and then that was it. I carried it in my purse while I was out and about to make sure that I took it and at work I kept it in my pump bag to make sure that I kept up my regiment at work. With consistent use I did see an upswing in supply in about 3 days. I have heard from other mothers that fenugreek made their children gassy and made them smell like maple syrup but that did not happen when taking this product thank goodness!!!!

What I did not like about the product:

My first turn off was the price. For a small 7oz  bottle it cost me $20. I was thinking maybe $10 but the $20 price shocked me. If you are in a pinch this may not be a good option unless you can find it some where on sale. My second turn off is that it is not sold in very many chain stores around me. I had to actually seek out a friend who sold it at her local shop. My third turn off is the taste. It is a horrible tasting product and the fact that you can not take it with something or chase it with something immediately afterwards was a little a it of torture. The taste lingered the whole 15 minutes until I could drink anything! it tasted like rubbing alcohol mixed with dirt. If you can not get passed the taste this may not be the product for you. 

Overall: 

Mother Love is a good brand and their products worked well for me. Besides the taste, the product is good and it worked for me with in 3 days of taking the proper dosages as instructed on the label. With all herbal based products it is not 100% effective for all mothers but I did have good luck with it and it did not bother my nursling at all.

Patricia's Breastfeeding Journey

Hello mommies!!

My name is Patricia and I'm a 24 year old single mom to an energetic, beautiful and happy baby boy Neko! I would like to tell my story of how we've made it to 9 months of EBF with no supplementing, I'm an attachment parenting and co-sleeping mama and hope this helps even at least one single mother or even a married mother who may have reservations for breastfeeding or want to discontinue!

Let me start by saying it's been a hell of a road. Since I was pregnant last year I've had to overcome many hurdles. Taking care of my son solely by myself is hard. His father is not involved by any means, my own family hasn't given the support I've needed mentally and I've only been able to count on 3 close friends to make it this far, even to this day it's still the same! Breastfeeding can be draining too. There have been maaaany people who have tried to talk me out of breastfeeding and even now because he's almost 1 and "should be drinking juice and cow’s milk" "breastfeeding is an inconvenience is much easier to just prop a bottle up so I can get stuff done" or the one I hate most "I couldn't breast feed. I don't want my titties to get saggy" REALLY!? You're 'titties' will be sagging well into your late forties any damn way! I ignored all those comments and just stuck with my decision to breast feed.

When I saw my son for the first time it just felt natural. I produced milk to feed and nurture MY baby. It's just amazing!! The first 6 weeks were extremely hard between growth spurts, lack of sleep and support and not knowing how much I could take but, if it were not for Dominique Gallo who I've known for 14 years, my other 2 close friends and 2 breast feeding groups I wouldn't have overcame that hurdle. I've been through the stares of random on lookers to my own family telling me I need to use a cover even when you see no nipple or the skin of my breast. 

Many don't agree with attachment parenting (always carrying baby even when it's just crying to be picked up) but my son is HAPPY and HEALTHY! He's more independent now an only cries when he's sleepy. Co sleeping is a breeze! Imagine having to wake up to a screaming baby in the middle of the night, your spouse too lazy or tired to get up and get a  bottle ready (or even if you're a single mom), with breastfeeding you can sleep bare from the top and roll over an give baby a breast and you both fall right back asleep! It's super safe! So please don't let uneducated old school or even people who simply don't agree because it interferes in their sex time tell you none of this is a good idea. I can promise you its well worth it!  It's a challenge that not many moms are up for. Whether it is like me which is lack of support, scared you may not be able to handle it or produce enough, think it may take too much... Listen if no one has your back in this. WE DO. If you're unfamiliar with breastfeeding and all that it entails WE can teach you or route you to someone who's more educated in lactation , if you think your breast will sag THEY WILL WHEN YOU'RE OLD ANYWAYS feed that baby them yummy chocolate Milkies! Lol. 

Baby Neko, 9 months

Whatever fears you have we all will do our absolute best to help you overcome them. It's been the most amazing bond and I've accomplished a lot being his mom. He chose ME. So why wouldn't I give him all of me? My milk has produced a happy child who's now 9 months and 20 pounds and 27 1/2 inches! Now the height comes from my family but still! Haha. It's sooo worth it mommy! You can do it! Not every moms experience will be the same but we all support each other's struggles, choice and baby. You've got this and we got your back.  :-)

Thank you for sharing your story with us Patricia! 

Who Cares if Black Women Breastfeed or Not?

This is blog/ website is a support page for all the mothers who choose to breastfeed their babies because in this world where somehow formula has become the normal way for feeding a baby, breast feeders are lost and unsure what to do. While this page can be used to gain knowledge for all mothers, it is dedicated to black mothers.

Why are black mothers so important? I’m not biased because of my own race of course but there is some disparity here that needs to come to light that many do not talk about or even care about. Some still do not know that there is a problem. So why is it important? Because:

The national average of breastfeeding initiation is 75% but only 59% of black mothers are initiated breastfeeding in the hospital. This is on the upswing but it is still low compared to the 75% of white women that breastfeed and the 80% of Hispanics. By 6 months postpartum only 21.9% mothers are breastfeeding and by 1 year only 12.5 % compared to the 23% average.

Black infants are 2.5 times as likely to die compared to their white counterparts and some of these deaths could have been prevented had the mother been breastfeeding.

This blog/website is all a support page to support positive birth outcomes for all mothers but especially black mothers. There is more disparity here and I think it needs to be talked about more. Positive birth outcomes for black mothers are important because:

1/3 babies born in the Unites States will be born via cesarean section (c-section) this is incredibly high but even more alarming is that among black women their rate is 34%. Higher than the national average! Black women are more likely to birth a baby with low birth weight (13.6%) and black women are 3 times more likely to suffer maternal death compared to white women. This should not be happening in a country where there are so many advancements…..

I am not sure how we in the United States got this far BUT I do think if we come together we can create a change.

So here I am. I plan to educate via posting up-to-date information on birth and breastfeeding in hopes that I reach lots of mothers on their parenting journeys and some health workers to make their journeys easier. I plan to blog about my journeys and how I got to be where I am. I plan to post (with permission of course) other mother's birth stories and breastfeeding journeys to help encourage more mothers to speak up, feel empowered, offer some healing and love, and hopefully aid in bringing these numbers down so that all the babies can be fed they way they expect and so that mothers can have better birth out comes.

I am Dominique Gallo and I am Chocolate Milk Kisses ;)


Citation: Center for Diases Control and Prevention , Child Health USA